3 free agents Cavs can sign to a max contract in 2023

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Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers and Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks. Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images /

3 free agents Cavs can sign to a max contract in 2023: Khris Middleton

The Milwaukee Bucks won the 2021 NBA Championship in resounding fashion, screaming back from an 0-2 deficit to win in six games. Last year they seemed like a serious candidate to repeat before All-Star forward Khris Middleton went down with an injury and missed the entirety of the Bucks’ seven-game, Second Round loss to the Boston Celtics.

Clearly, Middleton is valuable, if not vital, to the Bucks and their success, but he is also incredibly expensive. He has a player option for $40.4 million next summer, and most likely he will choose to hit free agency and lock in a longer-term deal. That will likely be with the Bucks, but if the cost is too high or he wants a change-of-scenery, the Cavs would love to have him.

Middleton is one of the league’s best “tough shot” makers, a valuable skill when things slow down in the playoffs. He is also 6’7″ but is more of a pure 3 than a combo forward, although he can certainly slide to the 4 as needed. He is a career 39.2 percent shooter from deep and has averaged over 20 points per game in each of the last three seasons while adding solid rebounding, assist and steal totals.

The offensive combination of Middleton and Darius Garland would be a lot for opponents to handle, especially while trying to stay big to match up with the size of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Middleton is right at home in such “jumbo” lineups and his championship experience could help lead the Cavs back into the championship mix.