Bucks already face an injury question mark heading into camp

After a busy offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks are about to open training camp looking to avenge last season’s early playoff exit.

While there was hope that they would get Khris Middleton, who underwent surgery on both ankles earlier in the offseason, healthy, that may not be the case. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the forward has not yet been cleared for 5-on-5 play. However, Haynes noted that Middleton is doing well after the surgeries and that he is expected to participate in most activities.

Middleton has been injured at some point in each of the last three seasons, significantly denting the Milwaukee Bucks’ title hopes. They need him to be third fiddle behind their top duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard if they want to reach the mountaintop, and if he has to miss a few practices in camp, then so be it. They need him healthy after two offseason surgeries.

Of course, you don’t want Middleton to lose valuable representatives either. Recovering from two ankle surgeries is no easy task, and he almost certainly hasn’t been able to train as hard as he would have liked this offseason. It’s a difficult situation. However, due to Middleton’s recent injuries, the Milwaukee Bucks should ultimately take the cautious route as it has to be about the long game.

That doesn’t mean it’s time to hit the panic button on Middleton or Milwaukee’s 2024-25 season. No one should be shocked that this front office is being as careful as possible with one of its three best players after two surgeries. As Haynes noted, Middleton is expected to participate in most of the team’s camp activities, so it’s not a doomsday scenario for Milwaukee.

Now more than ever, the Milwaukee Bucks need Middleton later in the season more than right at the start.

The Bucks open training camp on October 1st and then begin their preseason on October 6th against the Detroit Pistons. It would undoubtedly be encouraging and reassure panicked fans if Middleton were allowed to take a few shots in this preseason game. Only time will tell, but Middleton’s health needs to be monitored, as it has been for the past few years.

Stay tuned for more analysis on the Milwaukee Bucks.