Khris Middleton, Lakers
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Khris Middleton of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ hopes of adding former three-time NBA All-Star Khris Middleton through the buyout market have been effectively shut down by the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, eliminating a potential veteran boost before the playoff push even begins.
As leaguewide speculation grows that Middleton could emerge as a buyout candidate, the Lakers have been floated as a possible landing spot.
Under the new CBA, however, that scenario is essentially dead on arrival.
Despite Los Angeles’ need for veteran scoring and playoff-tested depth, restrictive salary-cap rules make it virtually impossible for the Lakers to sign Middleton even if the forward reaches the buyout market after the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
New CBA Buyout Rule
The primary barrier is the NBA’s revamped buyout eligibility rules, which were designed to prevent contenders from stockpiling high-salary veterans late in the season.
According to NBA salary-cap expert Keith Smith, first or second apron teams are prohibited from signing players like Middleton.
“The new buyout rules are that first AND second apron teams can’t sign a player whose previous contracts were larger than the non-taxpayer MLE for that season,” Smith explained.
Middleton’s contract easily exceeds that threshold. He is earning $33.2 million this season — more than double the $14.1 million non-taxpayer MLE — which immediately disqualifies him from joining any apron-restricted team via the buyout market.
The Lakers fall squarely into that category.
Lakers’ Cap Position Leaves No Margin for Error
Even if Middleton somehow met buyout eligibility requirements, the Lakers would still face a second, equally restrictive obstacle.
Los Angeles currently sits less than $1 million below the first apron, while a standard veteran minimum contract begins at approximately $2.16 million. That means the Lakers do not have enough cap room to sign any buyout player unless they first shed salary — an unlikely scenario so close to the deadline.
In practical terms, for the Lakers to add a buyout player, that player would need to have been waived from a contract below the non-taxpayer MLE and the Lakers would need to clear additional salary to remain compliant with the apron. Middleton satisfies neither condition.
How Middleton’s Buyout Buzz Began
Middleton’s name resurfaced after The Athletic’s Josh Robbins reported that the veteran forward could become a buyout candidate if no trade materializes before Feb. 5.
“Middleton, 34, has shown some signs of life lately, but no longer looks like a potential difference-maker for a contending team,” Robbins wrote on Jan. 20. “The majority of league sources whom The Athletic spoke with said they think Middleton’s most likely outcome is to remain with the Wizards through the deadline and be a buyout candidate.”
The report sparked immediate speculation among fan bases searching for late-season upgrades — including the Lakers, who have struggled mightily with bench production.
Why Middleton Would Have Fit the Lakers’ Needs
Even in a diminished role, Middleton represents exactly the type of veteran the Lakers have been missing.
Los Angeles ranks dead last in the NBA in bench scoring, averaging just 26.0 points per game from its second unit. That figure trails every Western Conference rival, including the San Antonio Spurs (40.4), Oklahoma City Thunder (39.9), and Denver Nuggets (33.8).
Middleton’s playoff résumé remains strong despite his decline. During Milwaukee’s 2021 championship run and postseason appearances, he averaged 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 80 career playoff games, providing shot creation, spacing, and late-game poise — all areas where the Lakers’ bench has struggled.
This season, Middleton has started in 30 games, averaging 9.8 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.2 rebounds with Washington after injuries derailed his career, which led to his trade to the Wizards, who have since pivoted toward a youth-driven rebuild.
New CBA Ends Buyout Shortcut for Lakers
Ultimately, the Lakers’ interest — real or imagined — is irrelevant under the new rules.
The CBA has effectively eliminated the buyout market as a solution for teams operating near the cap ceiling. For Los Angeles, that means any hopes of adding Middleton — or a similarly paid veteran — via buyout were extinguished before the process even began.
For Lakers fans hoping for a late-season boost, the buyout market is no longer a safety valve.
Any meaningful roster upgrade will need to come via trade — or not at all.