Milwaukee Bucks All-Star forward Khris Middleton is declining his $13 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent, his agent told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Middleton is represented by Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports.
Middleton and the Bucks are planning to work together toward a new long-term deal, sources said. He is expected to command a five-year max contract to stay with the Bucks or a four-year max deal elsewhere in the NBA.
Middleton was an All-Star for the first time this past season when he averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He averaged a career-high 20.1 points per game in 2017-18.
The Bucks had the best record in the regular season this year and lost to the champion Raptors in the conference finals. Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has said he wants all of the team’s free agents to return. That list includes Middleton, George Hill, Malcolm Brogdon, Brook Lopez and Nikola Mirotic.