When Khris Middleton arrived in Washington, the trade seemed to be a bit of a head scratcher for the Wizards.
Washington needed to offload Kyle Kuzma, but at the expense of bringing in a 34-year-old on a lucrative contract, the deal almost seemed like general manager Will Dawkins was hanging on to a double edged sword.
Fast forward to now, the Milwaukee Bucks and their fanbase could be thinking the same thing considering how poorly Kuzma has looked with his new squad.
Regardless, Middleton's fit in Washington seemed more discouraging than anything largely due to his inability to stay on the court; the same reason the Bucks opted to cut tied with the long-time veteran.
There's no denying that the versatile forward made a name for himself in Milwaukee.
Serving as the perfect running mate to Giannis Antetokounmpo when he was healthy, Middleton was a major reason for the Bucks success during their championship run in 2021.
Obviously, four years is a long time, especially when it comes to the timeline for NBA veterans when injuries are involved.
Middleton is a shell of his former self and that's a large reason why the Texas A&M product opted to opt-in to his $34.1 million player option this offseason to stay with the Wizards.
Taking what will be his final large payday was a wise decision from Middleton and his camp, and while it may prove difficult for the Wizards to move on from his contract, his presence on the roster could prove beneficial in the long run.
Washington has several young wings on their team that could greatly use Middleton's leadership as an advantage to their development.
Between Kyshawn George, Cam Whitmore, Will Riley and even Alex Sarr, Middleton could prove to be a vital piece in each of the young forward's career, especially if he's able to stay healthy.
Leading by example of how to approach the game on the court and off as a true professional, there's plenty to be excited about for Middleton's role on Brian Keefe's sqauad this coming season.
Whether the young players can take away how Middleton takes care of his body, what workouts he focuses on, or simple things such as how he sees the game, there's plenty of benefits to having a savvy vet like Middleton sticking around in Washington for the foreseeable future.
All that to say, Middleton could be a big contributor to the success of the development in Washington while he's here.