Mavericks close in on preventing gut-wrenching departure after latest rumors

Khris Middleton has become one of the Dallas Mavericks' biggest stories ever since the Anthony Davis trade, and if recent rumors prove true, it looks like he'll remain a Maverick for the remainder of the season.

"The leanings were that a buyout was probably unlikely," NBA insider Marc Stein reported after Dallas' loss to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

Middleton put forth another great performance against the Kings, as he finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists while shooting over 50 percent from the field. His ability to score from all three levels and be a source of instant offense for Dallas has been huge, and he has been far better than Mavericks fans even imagined.

Khris Middleton likely to remain a Maverick

Middleton has been one of the most consistent players on the team over the last few weeks and a breath of fresh air amid the worst stretch of the season, as Dallas has lost 11 of their last 13 games. He obviously wasn't on the team for this entire stretch, but his recent emergence has fans dreaming of the team re-signing him this summer.

The Mavericks parting with him after fans got so excited about him would be crushing, and they're on track to prevent this — at least for the rest of the season.

The Mavericks obviously need more shooting around Cooper Flagg next season, and Middleton can provide that and more. He is shooting over 38 percent from three in his first six games in Dallas, and many Mavericks fans would like for this to continue into next season.

Despite the Mavericks fans' desires, they are reaching a crossroads as Sunday quickly approaches. Players who would like to sign with a playoff team after getting bought out have to be bought out by then, and while the rumblings have favored the Mavericks thus far, nothing is set in stone yet.

Dallas has given Middleton the option of whether to pursue a buyout or finish the year with the Mavs. Keeping Middleton would allow him to play for Dallas for the remainder of the season, simultaneously putting them in a better position to retain him in the summer. The Mavericks have already made it clear to him that they need more shooting next season, and they could look into re-signing him this summer after getting a better look at him for the next month and a half.

As Stein reported, heading into last night's game, it seemed like Middleton wouldn't be bought out by the Mavs and that he would finish the season in Dallas. This is the exact news the Mavericks needed, and he is proving that he should remain in Dallas past the 2025-26 season.

Jason Kidd has spoken highly of Middleton since Dallas acquired him, and having another veteran voice in the locker room would be beneficial for Flagg as he finishes his rookie year and heads into year two. This is something that Kidd has already talked to Middleton about, and keeping him should be a priority for the Mavs as they enter this new era.

Him not getting bought out would make re-signing him that much easier, and Mavericks fans will get their official answer about his fate for the rest of the season shortly.