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

Middleton might take a bit less to help lead a young core

With Love sticking around long-term, Cleveland should be maximizing his production, and snagging Middleton as a bonafide second option to Love would qualify. As far as the financial details of a max contract for Middleton, Cleveland couldn’t offer the full max, but it could feasibly do a four-year deal, worth $110 million, with the first year being $25 million, and then with a raise each following season. That would enable Cleveland to fit him into their cap space.

A full max would involve him getting a four-year, $140,610,000 deal, per Luke Adams of HoopsRumors. Why that number you ask?

The NBA’s maximum contract criteria involves the number of seasons a player has been in the league (in Middleton’s case it would be seven after next year), and whether or not they are signing with a new team. The most a new team could offer him would be four, and they could offer an annual raise of 5 percent.

If Middleton opts out of his player option going into the 2019-20 season (which he likely will), he’ll warrant quite the hefty contract on the open market. That being said, if the Cavaliers are smart in managing their cap flexibility, they’ll be able to take on the Bucks’ budding stud if he’s willing to sacrifice to get out of Antetokounmpo’s shadow. Joining a young, hungry roster with players such as Osman and Sexton could provide nice appeal.

According to Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale, the Cavs “can save more than $32.8 million by waiving partial guarantees for George Hill, Kyle Korver and JR Smith.”

With the Cavs potentially signing Nance to a contract extension worth $7-9 million per year (h/t KJG’s Quenton Albertie), and with Hood’s $6.6 million cap hold potentially being tacked on to their cap room, it would be tricky, but the Cavs could get it done.

With Cleveland having Hood and Nance’s Bird Rights, they can go over the cap to sign them, if they manage it right. As Albertie noted, having their full mid-level exception of $8.6 million could come in handy when bringing in a big money player, too.

Middleton might not be the biggest 2019 free agent name on the market, but he would provide plenty of substance, and would solidify Cleveland as a relevant team in the East for a number of years. His play speaks for itself.