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Khris Middleton Update Is Bad News for Nuggets

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Debayan Biswas | Last updated Feb 27, 2026 2:05 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks are finding themselves in a tough spot this season, far from playoff contention, and that situation has put Khris Middleton in a pivotal position as the waiver deadline approaches.

Dallas fell to 21-37 with a loss to the Sacramento Kings, sitting 12th in the West. With the postseason appearing unlikely, the Mavericks have given Middleton the option to pursue a buyout before Sunday’s waiver deadline, which would allow him to join a playoff team. For contenders like the Denver Nuggets, the possibility represented a rare midseason opportunity.

But the latest update suggests that the opportunity may not materialize.

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According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, a buyout is considered unlikely. “There’s interest in Khris Middleton. I know Denver would love to get him,” Stein reported. “I think other teams have registered interest and it’s going to be a matter of does he want to force his way into a buyout or does he want to finish the season as a Mav? … The suspicion is or the leanings were that a buyout was probably unlikely.”

Middleton confirmed to Stein that he is still weighing his options ahead of Sunday’s deadline. League sources say Denver and other playoff teams have shown interest. Still, the prevailing belief is that he may remain in Dallas through the end of the season.

That development would be disappointing for the Nuggets, who have been pursuing forward depth on the buyout market. Injuries to Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson have thinned Denver’s frontcourt rotation in recent weeks. Middleton, even at 34, could provide wing size, secondary ball-handling and championship experience.

Former Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton (22) takes a shot before a game against the Sacramento Kings.Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

He has shown flashes in Dallas. In six games with the Mavericks, Middleton is averaging 14.5 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 38.1% from 3-point range. In a Feb. 20 performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he scored 18 points with six rebounds. He followed that with 25 points against the Indiana Pacers.

For Denver, the appeal is clear. Middleton could play anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes a night, serving as a floor spacer and a reliable veteran in a playoff lineup. Buyout additions rarely offer that level of reliability.

If Middleton elects to stay in Dallas, the Nuggets may need to pivot quickly. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks are ineligible to sign buyout players due to cap restrictions, narrowing the field but also limiting Denver’s alternatives.

Sunday’s deadline looms. If Middleton remains with the Mavericks, it would close the door on one of the most intriguing late-season roster possibilities for a Western contender. For now, the decision rests with the veteran forward, and the Nuggets can only wait.

Dallas will host the Memphis Grizzlies at 8:30 p.m. ET Friday in what could be Middleton's final game with the Mavericks.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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