The Washington Wizards have plenty of eyes on them as the NBA trade deadline looms and for multitude of reasons.
To start, the team's recent decision to make a blockbuster trade for four-time All-Star Trae Young suggests the Wizards front office will be aggressive on the trade market making moves that they feel get them one step closer to contender in the East sooner rather than later.
At the same time, Washington still has plenty of roster decisions looming ahead of the deadline with one of which being the looming question about veteran forward Khris Middleton's future in D.C. moving forward.
Middleton, who opted to pick up his $33.2 million player option this offseason that ultimately left the Wizards with the tasks to find a way to offload the 34-year-old's expiring contract.
Obviously, the preferred route to move on from Middleton would come with a trade ahead of the deadline in February, but with a lack of interested suitors, that option seems like the less likely of the team's choices.
According to Wizards' Insider Josh Robbins of The Athletic, one route for Washington to cut ties with Middleton's contract is becoming increasingly obvious.
Wizards may have to focus on contract buyout for Khris Middleton
In a recent report from Robbins, the insider revealed that the Wizards' most likely route for moving on from the veteran's lucrative contract won't come with a trade at the deadline, but instead a contract buyout.
"Middleton, 34, has shown some signs of life lately, but no longer looks like a potential difference-maker for a contending team," Robbins said. "The majority of league sources whomThe Athletic spoke with said they think Middleton’s most likely outcome is to remain with the Wizards through the deadline and be a buyout candidate."
There's no denying that Middleton is at the end of his career and while he's served as a solid veteran addition for the team in terms of mentorship, a split for both sides would be mutually beneficial.
For Washington, the team earns some financial flexibility, while also gaining increased minutes for young players behind the veteran on the depth chart.
As for Middleton, the former NBA champion will have the opportunity to sign with a contender in hopes of making a run at another title before being forced to call it a career.
Regarrdless of how the Wizards opt to move on from Middleton, it appears that the forward's time in the DMV is approaching an end.