A six-team swap was needed to pull off a sign-and-trade that landed Khris Middleton a three-year, $17.6 million contract with the Wizards.
The maneuvering involved the Pistons, Grizzlies, Clippers, Bucks, Mavericks and Wizards, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.
For Middleton, a member of the Mavericks before the trade, the Wizards sent former Nets star D’Angelo Russell, a 2029 second-round pick, a 2032 second-round swap and a 2033 second-rounder to the Grizzlies.
The Mavericks also included a 2033 second-round pick to Washington.
The deal also called for the Pistons to trade Caris LeVert and a pair of second-rounders to Milwaukee for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris, and, according to ESPN, the deal creates a trade exception and cap savings for the Pistons.
Trades that were previously worked out are now also part of Tuesday’s deal, which includes the Pistons trading Marcus Sasser to the Mavs, Isaiah Stewart to the Grizzlies, and a protected 2028 second-rounder to the Clippers.
The Clippers are sending John Collins to the Pistons and sending cash to the Bucks.
The Grizzlies are trading Santi Aldama and the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic to the Mavericks and a pair of draft picks to the Pistons.
The very convoluted deal ultimately helps bring Middleton back to Washington, where he played parts of the last two seasons.
He originally ended up with the Wizards after he was traded at the 2025 deadline by the Bucks.
The 34-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game during the 2025-26 season.
