Mavs may part ways with new trade return to reunite with NBA championship teammate

The Dallas Mavericks traded Anthony Davis away before the NBA trade deadline, and one of the pieces they got in return from the Washington Wizards was Khris Middleton.

There's no guarantee that Middleton will play any games for the Mavs, though.

The Athletic's John Hollinger listed Middleton as a buyout candidate after the trade deadline.

"The key to the salary match in the Washington Wizards’ trade for Anthony Davis, Middleton’s level of play has dropped considerably since his glory days in Milwaukee," Hollinger writes. "The Mavs should tank the rest of the way and don’t need him."

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Then, Hollinger adds a fun line for Bucks fans.

"One wonders about a Middleton/Bucks reunion," Hollinger writes.

Middleton was still playing quality basketball at times for the Wizards.

He also has a key superpower: He can help close out games. 

Middleton may not be as high-usage a player as he once was, but he can still get off his shot in any situation, get to the foul line and feed accurate passes to others.

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The Wizards occasionally relied on Middleton as a focal point down the stretch of close games.

If the Mavericks do release him, it'll be interesting to see what happens next.

If Middleton wants to go to the playoffs this year, he wouldn't join the Bucks.

But if he just wants those Giannis Antetokounmpo teammate vibes once again, that could be in play.

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