Khris Middleton, Bucks
Getty
Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors drives around Khris Middleton formerly of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Golden State Warriors have been linked to nearly every conceivable upgrade since Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL injury, and the latest name to surface was former three-time NBA All-Star Khris Middleton.
But even if Middleton reaches the buyout market, Golden State’s ability to act is effectively nonexistent.
According to Sports Business Classroom‘s apron tracker, the Warriors are hard-capped at the second apron and currently sit less than $300,000 below that threshold, according to league figures. Under the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, that shuts down any realistic path to adding Middleton — or even a veteran minimum player — without first shedding salary.
Why the Buyout Market Is Closed for Golden State
Khris Middleton, Lakers
GettyKhris Middleton of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Middleton reentered the rumor mill after The Athletic’s Josh Robbins reported that the veteran forward could become a buyout candidate if no trade materializes before the Feb. 5 deadline.
“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.”
That speculation quickly reached contenders seeking playoff-tested depth. In a vacuum, Golden State — with championship aspirations and a clear need on the wing — would profile as a logical destination.
The new CBA, however, has removed that option.
New CBA Rule Automatically Disqualifies Middleton
NBA salary-cap expert Keith Smith has detailed one of the most restrictive provisions of the revised agreement: teams at the first or second apron are prohibited from signing a buyout player whose previous contract exceeded the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Middleton’s current salary of $33.2 million far exceeds the $14.1 million non-taxpayer MLE, immediately disqualifying Golden State from pursuing him via buyout — even if he becomes available.
The Warriors’ position is even tighter.
Second Apron Leaves Warriors No Flexibility
Golden State’s payroll leaves it less than $300,000 below the second apron, well short of the approximately $2.16 million required for a veteran minimum contract. As a result, the Warriors cannot sign any buyout player unless they first offload meaningful salary.
In practical terms, even a depth addition is off the table. Any move to create space would almost certainly weaken the roster more than it helps, making such a maneuver highly unlikely this late in the season.
Kuminga Injury Adds to Trade Deadline Pressure
Jonathan Kuminga, Steve Kerr, Warriors
GettyJonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors is out indefinitely with a bone bruise.
The roster squeeze has intensified with Jonathan Kuminga ruled out indefinitely after an MRI revealed a bone bruise stemming from a hyperextended knee and rolled ankle suffered in last week’s loss to Dallas.
The injury comes at a critical time. Kuminga had just been reinserted into the rotation following Butler’s injury and provided an immediate scoring punch. His absence removes one of Golden State’s most dynamic options while also complicating trade scenarios.
Despite his return to the lineup before the injury, Kuminga’s trade demand remains unchanged, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, leaving the Warriors navigating both a medical setback and unresolved roster tension.
Roster Reality After Butler’s Injury
Golden State’s urgency to explore reinforcements spiked after Butler’s ACL tear forced head coach Steve Kerr to reshuffle the rotation and lean on a thinner wing group.
The need for two-way reliability and playoff experience is clear. Yet the second-apron restrictions have left the front office with almost no margin for error.
Beyond buyout limitations, second-apron teams face frozen draft picks, reduced trade flexibility and limited free-agent options — penalties that have sharply narrowed Golden State’s pathways to improvement.
Warriors’ Only Path Forward
Even if Middleton reaches the buyout market, the Warriors cannot sign him under current cap rules.
With Butler lost for the season, Kuminga sidelined indefinitely and no viable path to the buyout market, Golden State is effectively boxed in by the league’s new financial structure. Their only pathway is via the trade route, hoping to flip Kumingan for significant help.
For a franchise long known for creative roster maneuvering, the CBA has delivered a hard stop — and Middleton’s name is simply the latest reminder of how unforgiving the landscape has become.