This update effectively closes the door on Middleton joining another team via a buyout for this postseason. Earlier chatter had linked him to teams like Denver, but Stein’s latest reporting indicates Middleton will stay with Dallas for the stretch run, ensuring he remains playoff-eligible with his current club.
The buyout deadline matters because players waived after Sunday are generally not eligible to play in the playoffs for a new team. Middleton’s decision to remain with Dallas removes the “what’s next?” speculation and shifts focus to how the Mavericks deploy him down the final games of the regular season.
Middleton, 34, is listed at 6-foot-7 and has averaged 10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game this season. With his status clarified, Dallas gains a veteran wing option for shot-making and stability in half-court sets, while also providing insurance for star rookie Cooper Flagg, who has been sidelined with an ankle issue.
In short, Middleton’s decision eliminates the buyout market as a factor for this season and reinforces Dallas’s postseason plans, with Middleton serving as a veteran contributor for the remainder of the campaign.
