Khris Middleton‘s new contract with the Bucks includes a series of bonuses related to his total games played and the team’s postseason success, as Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel outlines (via Twitter).
According to Owczarski, Middleton will earn $1.5MM if he appears in at least 62 games in 2023/24 and $617K if the Bucks make the playoffs. He’ll also receive $206K if Milwaukee makes the Eastern Conference Finals, another $206K if the club makes the NBA Finals, and an additional $206K for a championship. Of those incentives, only the $617K playoff bonus is currently deemed likely, since Middleton and the Bucks didn’t achieve any of the other benchmarks last season.
Those figures add up to about $2.735MM — Middleton has approximately $2.963MM in total bonuses next season, so it sounds like at least one of his incentives is missing. However, Owczarski’s reporting gives us a pretty good sense of how the veteran forward would be able to max out his earnings in ’23/24.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- The Cavaliers are optimistic about Ricky Rubio‘s bounce-back potential in 2023/24, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link). As Fedor explains, Rubio is another year removed from ACL surgery and is expected to play for Spain in the World Cup, which could be a spring-board to a successful season. The Cavs’ addition of Ty Jerome was more about acquiring “playable depth” than an expectation he’ll usurp Rubio on the depth chart, Fedor adds.
- Monte Morris, who was born in Grand Rapids and grew up in Flint, spoke on Saturday about what it means to him to get the opportunity to play for his hometown Pistons, per Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press. “I always dreamed about playing for the Pistons, just where I grew up,” Morris said. “I was at the Boys and Girls Club a lot. We would get a lot of Pistons gear and I remember when Chauncey (Billups), Ben (Wallace), Tayshaun (Prince), and Rip (Hamilton) came down, it was like 2003, I believe. I was 8 years old running around the Boys and Girls Club. … I used to watch the games in the nosebleeds at the Palace. That pride of just being a Piston, I know what it feels like.”
- In a separate subscriber-only story for The Free Press, Sankofa answers mailbag questions about the Pistons‘ rotation, Ausar Thompson‘s role, and Thompson’s potential ceiling, among other topics. Within a discussion of trade possibilities, Sankofa expresses skepticism that James Wiseman will be moved this offseason, but acknowledges that if the former lottery pick can’t crack the team’s rotation this season, his days in Detroit could be numbered.
Rubio was excellent 2 seasons back before he got hurt. He may return to form. If he’s still with the Cav’s when the season starts. There is a good possibility that he may be dealt as part of salary matching in a sign and trade deal for a big man like Christian Wood. Rubio, Wade And Okoro are the only movable contracts on the club above the minimum but not large. If dealt it would open up playing time for Ty Jerome and Craig Porter Jr.
Rubio looked so done late last season. He’s cooked
Phil Jacksons 2nd biggest mistake as Knicks GM/VP was not completing the Rubio trade. He was the perfect piece for that team, they would not have won a championship obviously, but they would have won a lot more games. His biggest mistake was ever taking that job.
Cavs don’t need to be in a hurry. They can wait to see how Rubio does next month in the World Cup. If he looks like his old self then damn the torpedoes. But if he still looks shaky then they have to do something. Can’t depend on Jerome or Porter to be your number two point guard.
Cavs are fine when it comes to PG depth. They are always going to try and keep one of DG or Don on the floor at all times. Caris is also a player who does well with the ball in his hands and creates for others. PG depth isn’t a real issue as long as our boys stay healthy.
Really about the incentives????
Bucks are the team to beat. This is the yr they will go all out. Healthy they are favorites to get out the East. And win it imo.
East is tougher and deeper this yr.
Wiseman is bombing in Detroit also.
Not looking like Wiseman will get another NBA contract unless he improves quite a bit next season.
Wiseman is 22 and averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds last year. There’s zero chance that he won’t get a contract if he’s healthy.