Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton out six months with hamstring injury

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) shoots over Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) shoots over Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton will be out for most of the 2017 season after suffering an hamstring injury that will require surgery.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton suffered an hamstring injury that will require surgery, causing him to miss six months, the team announced. With training camps set to open next week, that means Middleton will likely miss nearly the entire NBA season. Six months would have him set to return in late March.

“We’re obviously disappointed for Khris and our team, but injuries are an unfortunate part of the game,” Bucks general manager John Hammond said in a team statement. “We’ll rely on our overall roster depth to help us while Khris is out for a significant period of the season.”

That is very bad news for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Middleton averaged 18.2 points per game and shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc. This was in the first year of a five-year, $70-million contract with the Bucks. Middleton certainly made good on that. The Bucks missed the playoffs last year, but were a better team with him on the floor.

Milwaukee was short on shooting, and that is what Middleton is best at. He is also a good defender. For a team that struggled defensively last year, his versatility on the perimeter would have been valuable for Milwaukee.

Without him, the Bucks do not have a lot of depth. Rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon, undersized veteran Jason Terry, journeyman Orlando Johnson and unproven youngster Rashad Vaughn are all on the roster. None will come close to replacing Middleton’s production. And with such a young team, it is hard to ask anyone to step up significantly.

Sports Illustrated ranked Middleton the 39th best player in the league in its annual SI Top 100.

The Bucks’ slim playoff hopes very well may have ended with this injury.

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Rumors have already started that Milwaukee will look to trade for wing help to bolster their roster. It seems absolutely necessary with this injury news now.

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