WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards are bringing back Khris Middleton. The veteran forward agreed to a three-year, $17.6 million contract with Washington via a sign-and-trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, agent Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports Management confirmed to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move is part of an elaborate six-team trade that also loops in the Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks, tying together previously agreed deals for John Collins, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince (to Detroit), Isaiah Stewart (to Memphis), Santi Aldama (to Dallas) and Caris LeVert (to Milwaukee). Washington’s piece of the deal sends guard D’Angelo Russell, a future second-round pick and a second-round pick swap to Memphis, according to ESPN.
It’s a second stint in Washington for Middleton, a three-time All-Star who spent 12 seasons with the Bucks and started alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo on Milwaukee’s 2020-21 championship team. The Bucks traded him to the Wizards at the 2025 deadline, and Washington flipped him to Dallas in February as part of the deal that brought Anthony Davis to the Wizards. Now 34, Middleton averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 63 games with the Mavericks last season — down from his career norms — but carries a track record of raising his level in the postseason, with career playoff averages of 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists across 80 games that outpace his regular-season numbers.
The signing is the latest step in general manager Will Dawkins’ rebuild of a Wizards roster that has finished with the league’s worst record in each of the past three seasons, following the earlier additions of All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Washington opens NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas on Thursday behind No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa, with the regular season — and Middleton’s second Wizards debut — still months away.