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Cleveland Cavaliers: Why Khris Middleton is worth a hefty contract in 2019

By Dan Gilinsky

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 28: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks to pass against the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of Round One of the 2018 NBA. Playoffs on April 28, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 28: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks to pass against the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of Round One of the 2018 NBA. Playoffs on April 28, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

If the Cleveland Cavaliers do truly intend to contend in the near future, Khris Middleton would provide a nice boost.

The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t play in the most glamorous free agent destination. As a lifetime Clevelander, I have an unwavering love for The Land, but objectively speaking, it’s not easy to get free agents to come here by the truck load. The Cavs no longer have LeBron James, or Kyrie Irving, for that matter. They do have a really good power forward in Kevin Love, though, and a hungry young core of players around him. They are just missing a consistent second option that can go off for 25-plus points on any given night. A player that could fill that legitimate second option void is the Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton, and he would be worth a huge free agent contract next summer.

While Middleton is not the same level of player as some other 2019 free agents, such as Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler, he would provide them with much-needed stability as a Love sidekick. Middleton has proven to be a really good player as Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s second-in-command, and there’s no reason he couldn’t do the same for Love.

In 2017-18, Middleton had his best year in the NBA. He had career-highs in points per game (with 20.1), true shooting rate (at 57.7 percent) and rebounds per game (with 5.2), per Basketball Reference.

That bucket-getting ability would Cleveland’s offense another gear. Nobody currently on their roster has his overall all-around offensive repertoire, and that should stick out to Cleveland general manager Koby Altman.