Mavericks' first offseason signing already feels inevitable

The Dallas Mavericks' season is all but over. With just eight games remaining, fans are already turning their attention to the offseason. At the top of Dallas’ to-do list: taking care of their own free agents. And one move, in particular, is quickly becoming obvious — re-signing Khris Middleton.

With free agency approaching, the Mavericks are reportedly eager to retain the veteran. According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, “Dallas’ eventual hire will undoubtedly hear of the organizational fondness already building for newly acquired Khris Middleton.”

Khris Middleton’s underrated impact in Dallas

Middleton has quietly been a bright spot for the Mavericks since arriving ahead of the trade deadline. Initially seen as little more than a salary-matching piece in a deal that sent Anthony Davis’ max contract to the Washington Wizards, the 34-year-old has quickly proven he’s much more than that.

In 21 games with Dallas, Middleton has averaged 11.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Although his counting stats aren’t eye-popping, the former All-Star is producing in just 22.3 minutes per game and has emerged as one of the Mavericks’ most reliable late-game options. Middleton leads the team in clutch points per game and ranks third in both clutch field goal attempts and efficiency. He’s also one of the few players on the roster who can consistently create his own mid-range look off the dribble.

A Middleton-Mavericks reunion makes perfect sense

At a glance, the Mavericks’ growing fondness for Middleton may seem a bit unusual. Dallas currently holds one of the league’s worst records, and with an average age of 26.3, sits squarely in the middle of the NBA. With Cooper Flagg set to take on even more responsibility, the franchise appears to be trending upward and likely prioritizing youth moving forward.

Yet, the Mavericks still lack reliable late-game shotmakers, and counting on a teenage lottery pick to solve that immediately is far from a sure thing. That reality makes finding a player of Middleton’s caliber at a comparable price extremely unlikely.

Dallas wouldn’t need to commit to a sizable long-term deal to retain Middleton. A one-year contract at or near the veteran’s minimum would be entirely reasonable. And even at 35 by the start of next season, he would still provide value both on and off the court for a burgeoning team.

There will almost certainly be more enticing options once free agency opens, and perhaps using the non-tax mid-level exception to pursue players like Quentin Grimes or Ayo Dosunmu. But even so, the Mavericks bringing back Middleton to bolster their wing depth is already beginning to feel like a foregone conclusion.