Khris Middleton has agreed to sign a three-year contract worth $17.6MM with the Wizardsaccording to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reports (via Twitter) that Washington will acquire the veteran forward from the Mavericks via sign-and-trade.
The move will be combined with several previous trade agreements to form one giant six-team transaction, per Charania (Twitter link). In addition to Washington and Dallas, the Grizzlies, Pistons, Clippersand Bucks will be involved, with the following deals incorporated:
As part of the six-team trade, the Wizards will send veteran point guard D’Angelo Russell to Memphis along with a future second-round pick and a second-round pick swap, Charania adds (via Twitter).
According to Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link), the Wizards are sending Memphis the Lakers’ 2029 second-round pick and their own 2033 second-round pick while acquiring a 2033 second-round pick from Dallas as part of the elaborate deal.
A three-time All-Star, Middleton will turn 35 in August and has battled knee and ankle problems in recent years, so he’s no longer the impact player he was in his prime. However, he remained productive in a regular rotation role for the Wizards and Mavericks in 2025/26, averaging 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 22.8 minutes per game over the course of 63 total appearances (50 starts).
After beginning last season in D.C., Middleton was traded to Dallas as part of the Anthony Davis blockbuster in February. It seems as if he and the Wizards enjoyed their stint together though and will reunite for the 2026/27 season.
Although Middleton is required to get a minimum of three years because he’s being signed-and-trade, his deal won’t be fully guaranteed — only the first season of a contract involved in a sign-and-trade must be guaranteed. Robbins reports (via Twitter) that the second year will include a partial guarantee, with the third season non-guaranteed.
Russell was another piece involved in that in-season Davis trade, but he didn’t report to the Wizards and wasn’t expected to be part of the team’s plans in 2026/27 even after he exercised his $5.97MM player option. The Grizzlies will take advantage of their space below the luxury tax line to accommodate his salary while picking up a couple draft assets in the process, but I don’t imagine he’ll be on Memphis’ roster for long.
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