NBA Free Agency 2023: 3 landing spots for Khris Middleton you never thought of
By Jakob Ashlin
Wild-card landing spots for Khris Middleton: 2. Sacramento Kings
The Kings are being aggressive this offseason. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick, they held trade talks for Bradley Beal with the Washington Wizards.
After moving Richaun Holmes’ $12.046 million salary, they are well-positioned to make a splash in free agency. If they renounce cap holds for Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Lamb, Terence Davis, Alex Len, Corey Brewer, Matthew Dellavedova, Keon Ellis, Neemias Queta, and Chimezie Metu, they would have $30.146 million in cap space. In addition, they would retain their room mid-level exception worth $7.722 million and the early bird rights for Trey Lyles.
If Middleton cannot find a long-term offer on the open market, the Kings could try to talk him into a lower annual figure. A four-year, $120 million contract would fit into Sacramento’s cap space. They could head into next season with the following rotation:
- PG: De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell
- SG: Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk
- SF: Khris Middleton, Kessler Edwards, P.J. Dozier
- PF: Keegan Murray, Trey Lyles
- C: Domantas Sabonis, (MLE?)
Middleton would be a nice fit for the Kings’ roster. He would slide into Barnes’s role but provide the team with a higher scoring upside. His ability to play off-ball would also not harm the team’s chemistry.