With the Dallas Mavericks close to falling out of the playoff race, the Mavs have set their sights toward the offseason. With clear holes in their roster and some money to spend, fans have started to dream about the top tier free agents, including Golden State Warriors stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. However, according to some, a more realistic target may be Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Via Marc Stein of The New York Times:

“I have yet to hear any credible suggestion that the Mavericks can get in the mix for the elite free agents such as Durant, Thompson and Kyrie Irving. But Middleton is an inevitable (and sensible) target.”

Middleton, a small forward, made his first All-Star team this season. The 27-year-old has been fantastic for the Bucks, averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 43.6%. He has been a significant factor in Milwaukee’s 43-14 record, the best in the game.

Dallas is in a much better financial position than Milwaukee going forward. According to Spotrac, the Mavericks have more than $52 million available in practical cap space, the fifth-most in the NBA. The Bucks, with just over $19 million, rank 14th.

At 26-31, the Mavericks are four games back of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Four other teams stand between Dallas and a playoff spot. ESPN’s BPI Playoff Odds give them only a 1.7% chance of making the playoffs this season. After the team’s deadline deal for injured star Kristaps Porzingis, it is clear that they are setting their sights toward the 2019-20 season.