Top Candidate To Land Khris Middleton If He Leaves Dallas Officially Revealed

The trade deadline around the NBA was wild, with plenty of surprising moves sending players places that nobody quite expected, with the entire landscape of the league changed in a few days. One of the most overlooked parts of the blockbuster Anthony Davis move was former NBA Champion Khris Middleton landing in Dallas, where he has posted 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 5 games played.

However, the team clearly aren't looking to contend, but instead build around Cooper Flagg, who has put together a fantastic case for Rookie of the Year in 2025/26. As a result, there's been some discussion of buying Middleton out, especially given that he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

If that is the direction that the Mavericks indeed go, Marc Stein has now revealed the top candidate to land him, and if that's the case, it would make them an even stronger team in the East.

According to Stein, the Pistons are the team expected to show the most interest in Middleton, and while he's not the player from 2021 that helped the Bucks to an NBA Championship, he still brings that experience that this team sorely needs.

Ultimately, this is a Detroit team that's got everything from an MVP candidate leading the way to a defensive stalwart down low, and while many see them as a genuine contender already, if they land Middleton, it will give them enough firepower to take down anyone in the East.