The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly aren’t planning to use a Khris Middleton trade in order to circumvent the trade restrictions levied by their position above the second apron.

ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported that the Bucks “have zero interest in trading Khris Middleton at this time.”

The Bucks are not allowed to aggregate salary in a trade due to their $207 million payroll, which leaves them $6.5 million above the restrictive second apron.

Given that Milwaukee is unlikely to move on from their star duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, trading Middleton and his $31.7 million cap hit for the season is the only viable route for the Bucks to make any major trades before the Feb. 6 deadline.

Middleton was sidelined for the first 21 games of the season after undergoing surgery on both ankles this offseason. He returned on Dec. 6 and has averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals while coming off the bench in four games since.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal recently said that the Bucks were willing to trade Middleton in 2023 in an attempt to acquire Beal from the Washington Wizards, but Milwaukee could be taking a different stance on Middleton this season for multiple reasons.

For one, Middleton’s trade value could be impacted by both his recent return from injury and the chance he could walk this spring rather than taking his 2025-26 player option.

For another, since the Bucks ended up acquiring Lillard rather than Beal, Middleton is a good fit on the wing alongside the Bucks’ star duo.

The Bucks are willing to listen to offers on Pat Connaughton, MarJon Beauchamp and potentially Bobby Portis, according to Siegel. Those options would prevent Milwaukee from bringing in any major contracts the other way, but it sounds like the reigning NBA Cup winners would prefer to stick with Middleton than make a splash at the deadline this winter.