Khris

Middleton

Doc Rivers seemed optimistic recently that Middleton will be back sooner rather than later, but there still isn’t a clear timeline for him. He fully participated in 5-on-5 practice a week ago, so he shouldn’t be far off from a return. This game will be the first leg of a back-to-back, so keep an eye on the injury report ahead of their matchup with the Hawks on Wednesday.

Middleton has yet to appear in a game this season, and that will not change on Saturday. However, Bucks coach Doc Rivers said on Friday that he hopes that will change soon. Middleton remains without a timeline, so managers who have stashed him in an IL+ slot should continue to stay patient.

Middleton won’t play on Tuesday, so there is a chance that he makes his season debut against Washington on Saturday. It’s unclear how large of a role he’ll play immediately, and it is safe to assume that he will be on a restriction and miss back-to-backs. Andre Jackson Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. will likely lose out on some minutes when Middleton returns.

Middleton has made it over another hurdle in his recover journey. The Bucks wing has cleared another hurdle in his recovery process. There’s no set date for his return to 5-on-5 basketball, but he’ll bump fill-ins like Andre Jackson and Gary Trent Jr. down a few pegs when he’s back in the starting lineup.

Middleton has yet to appear in a game this season and does not have a timeline for his return. The Bucks forward did not practice on Wednesday, but according to coach Doc Rivers, he will play 3-on-3 ahead of Thursday’s game against the Jazz. Taurean Prince will remain the starter until Middleton is cleared to play.

While Middleton is progressing in his recovery, he still isn’t ready to play in games. Taurean Prince will remain in the starting lineup, making him worthy of streaming consideration in deep leagues.

While Middleton is feeling better after undergoing surgeries on both ankles this summer, he hasn’t reached the point where he can play in games. “I feel good, just not good enough to play that’s all,” Middleton told The Athletic. “That’s really all I can say at this point. And just working to get back on the court. I’m feeling better and better each day just not good enough to play yet.” Middleton remains without a timeline for return, although he continues to go through the ramp-up process. Taurean Prince will remain the starter until that changes, but he is only worth a look in deep leagues.

Prince will likely complete a starting lineup of Damian Lillard, Gary Trent Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez for this game. Giannis hasn’t officially been cleared, but he has been on the injury report as probable with this knee injury. Prince won’t provide much value outside of 3-pointers in 9-cat leagues, but he will be a long-term starter, which may make him worth a stream in deeper leagues.

Middleton’s 2024-25 outlook is already looking bleak. The two-way wing ended last season as his team’s lone star available due to widespread injury problems and his lingering health issues could now force him to miss a significant chunk of the upcoming season. Fantasy managers should steer clear of Middleton altogether at this point.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported in mid-July that Middleton underwent surgery on both of his ankles. While he is, according to Haynes, making progress in his recovery, the Bucks wing still has not been cleared for 5-on-5 activities. Injuries in recent years have diminished Middleton’s fantasy value, and Saturday’s update does not help matters. Taurean Prince, who appears on track to start regardless of Middleton’s status, and Gary Trent Jr. become players worth taking a late-round flier on, especially in deeper leagues.