The Wizards are bringing back a familiar face and sending out a veteran guard in one of the league’s most sprawling summer transactions.
Khris Middleton has agreed to a three-year, $17.6MM contract with Washington, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported that the Wizards will land the veteran forward from the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade. The move is part of a massive six-team deal that also includes the Grizzlies, Pistons, Clippers and Bucks.
Charania said the full transaction folds in several previously agreed-upon trades. Those pieces include the Pistons getting John Collins from the Clippers, the Grizzlies landing Isaiah Stewart from Detroit, the Mavericks acquiring Santi Aldama from Memphis, and the Bucks adding Caris LeVert from the Pistons.
Washington’s side of the deal also sends D’Angelo Russell to Memphis, along with a future second-round pick and a second-round swap, Charania added. Josh Robbins of The Athletic reported that the Wizards are sending the Lakers’ 2029 second-round pick and their own 2033 second-round pick to the Grizzlies while receiving a 2033 second-round pick from Dallas.
Middleton, a three-time All-Star, turns 35 in August and has dealt with knee and ankle issues in recent years, so he’s not the same player he was at his peak. Even so, he was still a useful rotation piece in 2025/26, putting up 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 22.8 minutes per game across 63 total appearances, including 50 starts, for the Wizards and Mavericks.
He started last season in Washington before being moved to Dallas in February as part of the Anthony Davis blockbuster. Now he’s headed back to the Wizards for the 2026/27 season.
Because the deal is being completed via sign-and-trade, Middleton’s contract has to run at least three years, though it won’t be fully guaranteed. Robbins reported that the second season will carry a partial guarantee, while the third year is non-guaranteed.
Russell was also part of that in-season Davis trade, but he never reported to Washington and wasn’t viewed as part of the Wizards’ plans for 2026/27 even after picking up his $5.97MM player option. Memphis is able to absorb his salary while staying below the luxury tax line, and the Grizzlies also pick up draft assets in the process.
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