The Bucks have been without perimeter scorer Khris Middleton since September when he underwent hamstring surgery expected to sideline him for the duration of 2016/17. According to Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, the 25-year-old could be back ahead of schedule and potentially take the court this year at some point after the All-Star Break.
“It’s possible. That’s if everything goes right, with no setbacks and a good, long stretch of practices,” Middleton told Aschburner of his possible return to the Bucks. “Still a long way to go but I’m working towards it.”
Over the last three seasons the Bucks have seen their swingman develop from an unheralded second-round pick to a legitimate perimeter threat. In 2015/16, the small forward averaged 18.2 points per game.
There’s plenty more out of the Central Division today:
- There’s a general attitude in the Pacers locker room that Monta Ellis would produce more in the second unit, writes Jim Ayello of the Indy Star. The team already starts Jeff Teague who, like Ellis, is most effective when he’s free to dominate the basketball. “It’s hard for him to play with the ball in his hands in the first unit,” Indiana reserve C.J. Miles says.
- After signing a substantial four-year, $50M contract with the Bucks over the offseason, Miles Plumlee was expected to play a vital role in Milwaukee’s rotation. Fast forward to January and the center has played just 9.2 minutes per game. According to Gery Woelfel of Woelfel’s Pressbox, head coach Jason Kidd suggested that Plumlee put less pressure on himself. Worth noting is that Plumlee’s role could change if Greg Monroe is ultimately moved before the deadline, as has been rumored.
- Having recently returned to practice, it appears as though Reggie Bullock could return to action for the Pistons as early as the end of their upcoming west coast trip, tweets Rod Beard of The Detroit News. The Pistons play at home against the Hawks on January 18.
- As both the coach on the sidelines and one of the executive charged with making personnel decision, Stan Van Gundy has his work cut out for him with the struggling Pistons. He voiced his perspective on the matter to MLive’s Aaron McMann. “We’re all frustrated, but you can’t make decisions out of frustration,” Van Gundy said. “You’ve got to try and have an objective analysis of what we’ve got and where we’re going and everything else.”
- With circumstances grim in Chicago, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer speculates that the volatile situation could soon erupt. O’Connor explores some of the decisions the Bulls have made in the last year, including their decision to entertain trade offers for Jimmy Butler last summer. Fortunately, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times, players on the team have become immune to front office dysfunction.
There’s plenty of dysfunction in the Bulls’ locker room too. They shipped off half of the problem to NY last year. The other problem is Butler. He’s a good player, but the Bulls are going nowhere with him. They don’t have the ability to add substantial talent via free agency or trade. At some point, the front office will have to consider trading him.
I don’t think you need to trade Butler. He just needs to be a number two guy and not behind an aging Wade.
Reinsdorf needs to sell the Bulls or nothing will change. His loyalty to his GMs have killed the Bulls and the Sox. Hahn should have started this rebuild 4 years ago. The Sox have been horrible and NOW they finally decide to rebuild, so they’ll be horrible for the next 4 years with the HOPE that some of these “prospects” pan out even though the Sox have terrible scouts and a terrible coaching/development system. The Bulls are the NBA version of the Sox. Instead of rebuilding the right way, they add two aging vets(Wade and Rondo) to a bad team….(Like adding Frazier and Shields to a horrible team) This Bulls/Sox issue starts at the very top, Reinsdorf.
Butler doesn’t make anyone better like harden does he just looks for his Own shit Blow the whole thing up already Sorry D Wade your now just gonna erode into retirement
I’d get the PPV if they showed Rondo beating on Paxon!
Lots of hit and miss with Bucks management
Drafted very well and Delly signing and Tony Snell trade look good
But that Plumlee signing…..ouch
Brogdon is playing himself in a vital role with the Bucks and if he keeps up his numbers he could easily be a roy candidate. Plumlee is a bum and never should have gotten that money. Try to trade him for a another ball boy or something bc that’s all he’s worth. I say hang on to Monroe and when Middleton comes back they will be ready to go.
Plumlee and this years 1st round pick for Brooklyn’s pick for this year (which is owned by Boston)
Detroit should be kicking themselves, for trading Middleton (who they drafted) with Brandon Knight to the Bucks to for Brandon Jennings. He would have easily surplanted Caldwell-Pope as the starting 2 guard.