{"id":116861,"date":"2025-01-08T13:57:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T18:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=116861"},"modified":"2025-01-08T13:57:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T18:57:01","slug":"khris-middleton-bench","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/08\/khris-middleton-bench\/","title":{"rendered":"Milwaukee Bucks Repeating Phoenix Suns’ Cardinal Mistake"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Milwaukee Bucks have decided to move Khris Middleton<\/a> to the bench<\/a> in favor of lineup continuity. Head coach Doc Rivers wants to have some continuity while managing Middleton\u2019s minutes as he is recovering from double ankle surgery. Yet, while some view it as a way to build continuity, others might see it as a message that he might get traded soon.<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Bucks Repeating Phoenix Suns’ Cardinal Mistake<\/h2>\n

On the latest episode of the Hoop Collective, Brian Windhorst talked about the cardinal rule of building a team and working trades. He said,<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things they teach you as a young coach or young executive is to never devalue your players, no matter what the reality is. Don\u2019t talk bad about your players, and don\u2019t do things that make your players look less valuable, specifically if you may be trying to trade them.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Windhorst specifically mentioned Bradley Beal<\/a>, but the same thing might apply to Middleton as well. He said,<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Phoenix Suns are trying to trade Bradley Beal, it is not a secret. The last thing you\u2019d want to do if you\u2019re trying to trade a player regardless of the fact that everybody can see that Bradley is having a bit of a difficult season, you wouldn\u2019t want to send a message to the rest of the league that Beal isn\u2019t really working out for us.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n