NBA Six-Team Reshuffle
Wizards Acquire Khris Middleton in Complex Six-Team Sign-and-Trade Deal
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Key Points
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Only the first year of Middleton's contract is fully guaranteed; the second year is partially guaranteed and the third year is non-guaranteed.
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The sign-and-trade creates a $13.4 million Wizards trade exception, which can be paired with Deandre Ayton's $8.1 million salary to facilitate additional moves.
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As part of the six-team deal, Dallas is slated to acquire Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic, and likely Marcus Sasser from the Grizzlies/Mavericks package.
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Middleton's 29-game stint with the Mavericks last season produced averages of about 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, with 39.1% from three and 91% from the free throw line.
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Middleton's career arc includes a long stint with the Bucks (12 seasons), a Wizards acquisition in 2024, and a February 2024 trade to the Mavericks in the Anthony Davis deal; the current move brings him back to Washington as part of a broader cap-focused six-team trade.
Khris Middleton is heading back to Washington. The 14-year veteran agreed to a three-year, $17.6 million sign-and-trade deal to rejoin the Wizards, according to Post and Courier. The move is part of a sweeping six-team deal involving the Mavericks, Grizzlies, Bucks, Pistons, and Clippers.
The deal reshapes rosters across the league. D'Angelo Russell heads to Memphis. Santi Aldama moves to Dallas. And a web of picks, contracts, and exceptions gets redistributed across six franchises, per Roundtable.
Middleton's Contract Is Mostly Non-Guaranteed
Middleton's deal is structured carefully. Only the first year is fully guaranteed. The second year is partially guaranteed, and the third year carries no guarantee at all, according to Yahoo Sports. That structure keeps Washington flexible as it builds around its young core.
Middleton, 33, played just 29 games for Dallas last season. He averaged 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He shot 39.1% from three and 91% from the free throw line. Those numbers show he can still contribute, even if his role in Washington will be limited behind younger players.
Six-Team Trade Sends Russell to Memphis
Washington will send D'Angelo Russell to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the framework. The Wizards will also ship future second-round picks to Dallas, according to 247Sports. Russell, once an Ohio State star, is now on his fifth different team in three years, per Bleacher Report.
Russell is not discouraged. After the trade, he sent a warning to the NBA about his intentions to prove himself again with Memphis, according to Bleacher Report. Dallas, meanwhile, gets Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic, and likely Marcus Sasser from the Grizzlies package, per Roundtable.
Trade Exception Opens Door for More Washington Moves
The sign-and-trade creates a $13.4 million trade exception for Washington. A trade exception is cap space a team can use to absorb an incoming player without sending salary back. The Wizards can pair that exception with Deandre Ayton's $8.1 million salary to make additional moves, according to Yahoo Sports.
Dallas also benefits. Middleton's contract gives the Mavericks room to open their own trade exception and chase further upgrades. Both teams enter the 2026-27 season with more financial tools than they had before the deal was finalized.
Middleton's Career Comes Full Circle in Washington
Middleton spent 12 seasons with Milwaukee, winning an NBA title with the Bucks in 2021. Washington first acquired him in 2024. Then, in February 2024, he was shipped to Dallas in the Anthony Davis trade. Now he is back in Washington again, per Post and Courier.
The Wizards see him as a veteran voice for a young group. His shooting and experience add real depth to the frontcourt. Washington is not expecting him to carry the team. But steady production and leadership from a champion can matter more than raw stats on a rebuilding roster.
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