​Khris Middleton is on the move again, but this time he’s heading to a familiar stomping ground just not the one Bucks fans might expect. It’s not Milwaukee this time around. Surprisingly, the Bucks aren’t the landing spot, even though they were part of a sweeping, multi-team trade this week that sent Middleton from the Dallas Mavericks back to the Washington Wizards—the same team the Bucks sent him to at the February 2025 deadline. Middleton spent the remainder of that season and the start of the next in Washington before winding up in Dallas again at the deadline. Now a free agent, Middleton could sign with anyone, and he has chosen a sign-and-trade arrangement to team up with Trae Young and Anthony Davis in the nation’s capital.
The deal is expansive, involving six teams, 11 players, and a constellation of draft picks changing hands. For Milwaukee, the return includes guard Caris LeVert and two future second-round picks from the Detroit Pistons, in exchange for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris. Beyond the Bucks, Wizards, Mavericks, and Pistons, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers are also part of this intricate trade web.
Here’s a clear breakdown of who’s moving where: the Wizards will receive Middleton (via Dallas), plus a 2033 second-round pick (via Dallas). The Grizzlies are set to acquire D’Angelo Russell (via Washington), along with several draft assets: the 2029 second-round pick (via Dallas), the 2029 second-round pick (via Washington), the 2030 top-20 protected first-round pick (via Dallas), the 2032 second-round pick swap (via Washington), and the 2033 second-round pick (via Washington). The Mavericks will gain the rights to Tarik Biberovic (via Memphis, the 56th pick in the 2023 Draft). Milwaukee will receive Caris LeVert (via Detroit) and two future second-round picks (via Detroit). Detroit will take Gary Harris and Taurean Prince from Milwaukee, along with the 2029 second-round pick (the second-best of DET/NYK/MIL, via Memphis), the 2031 second-round pick (via Memphis), and the 2032 second-round pick (via Memphis). The Clippers will receive a protected 2028 second-round pick (via Detroit).
Middleton returns to Washington, D.C., stepping onto a roster that blends veteran savvy with promising youth, including AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick from last month’s draft. After his initial trade from Milwaukee to the Wizards during the 2024-25 season, Middleton appeared in 48 games, all starts, across two seasons in Washington before being traded to Dallas in February. He logged 29 games with the Mavericks, averaging 10.0 points per game to finish the 2025-26 season.
Milwaukee recognizes Middleton as one of the franchise’s all-time greats, helping the Bucks secure the 2021 NBA Championship and leaving an enduring mark in franchise history. In 12 seasons with Milwaukee, Middleton appeared in 735 games, the second-most in Bucks history. He also stands as the team’s all-time leader in made three-pointers with 1,382, while ranking high in minutes played, points, and assists, and ranking among the leaders in steals and free-throw percentage.
Many fans may recall Middleton’s pivotal moments in Milwaukee, and his career with the Bucks is punctuated by standout performances and clutch plays that helped define an era. As he returns to Washington, questions will swirl about how this new trio of Middleton, Young, and Davis will adapt to a fresh system and a different set of expectations in the nation’s capital. The broader trade landscape also keeps an eye on how the interconnected moves—spanning six teams and numerous draft assets—will ripple through the rest of the league as those players settle into their new roles.