The Pistons' need for more shooting and a reliable secondary creator may soon be answered by an unexpected addition. Former NBA champion and one-time Piston Khris Middleton is reportedly weighing his choices between staying on the Mavericks and pursuing a buyout. Middleton is well beyond his prime at 34 years old but has shown signs of life since being traded recently.
Khris Middleton would be a sneakily good addition for the Pistons
Middleton carved a legacy in Milwaukee as an all-time great Buck and perfect co-star for Giannis Antetokounmpo. But he was dealt to the lowly Wizards last year and had to bide his time on a tanking team. He found his way to Dallas as part of the Anthony Davis trade and has been resurgent in his first 4 games as a Maverick.
Over those 4 games, Middleton averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field and 40% from three. He's looked surprisingly spry as a ball handler and maintained his trademark shooting accuracy. In Washington, Middleton didn't look like he had much left to give a contending team; he's proving that sentiment wrong immediately in Dallas.
After the Spurs exposed the Pistons' lack of shooting, Detroit should feel even more pressure to find reliable marksmen before the playoffs. They have some options on the bench, such as Marcus Sasser or the newly-acquired Kevin Huerter. But neither seems to have earned coach JB Bickerstaff's trust enough to play consistent minutes.
Middleton, on the other hand, should be an immediate coach's favorite as a 14-year veteran and former All-Star. His game has always been predicated on skill and high basketball IQ, rather than athleticism, so it's aging well. He would fit right in to the Pistons' locker room as a former second-round pick who's fought his way to the highest heights of the NBA.
On the court, Middleton's combination of scoring and opportunistic playmaking would bode well as a secondary ball handler or backup initiator. He's capable of thriving as a spot-up threat or creating his own shot out of nothing. And he can help run the offense himself to take pressure off of Cade Cunningham.
This fantasy of Middleton returning to the team that drafted him in 2012 hinges on him pursuing a buyout from the Mavericks, which isn't guaranteed. But his addition would be a perfect response by the Pistons to a big loss that emphasized their weaknesses. Acquiring Middleton would give Detroit more options against playoff defenses without sacrificing significant assets or flexibility.
In the most unexpected storybook ending of all time, Khris Middleton might be the surprise addition that takes the Pistons over the top and brings a championship back to Detroit.