Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd expressed appreciation that Khris Middleton chose to remain with the team for the rest of the season instead of pursuing a buyout to join a contender, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports.
“It’s great,” Kidd said. “Khris is a vet. He’s already had some impact with us, on and off the floor. For him to be able to stay, it’s great.
“We’ll try not to play him 40 minutes a night, but his ability as a vet to score and to lead is something that’s needed in that locker room, so we’re happy he stayed.”
While Middleton decided to stay in Dallas, veteran guard Tyus Jones reached a buyout agreement with the team, creating an open spot on the Mavericks’ 15-man roster.
Dallas used that opening to promote rookie guard Ryan Nembhard from his two-way contract.
Curtis reports that Nembhard said it “feels great” to secure his first standard NBA deal and that he’s “looking forward to building on this.”
The former Gonzaga guard added that the Mavericks have shown strong interest in him for some time, even attempting to obtain a second-round pick last June in order to draft him before eventually signing him as an undrafted free agent.
“They showed a lot of love,” Nembhard told Curtis. “They got me in for a workout the day before the draft. I feel like there was an opportunity for me. That’s the biggest thing.”
Jason Kidd is pleased that Khris Middleton stuck around: https://t.co/NtWRC44ABN
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 4, 2026
