Doc Rivers updates Khris Middleton's status, coaching staff as Danilo Gallinari practices

MINNEAPOLIS – The Milwaukee Bucks elected to end cut their all-star break a little short by heading to Minneapolis early to get in a practice Thursday afternoon. Rivers said it was for ease of scheduling, as players and coaches were flying in from the break from various destinations.

It is just the second practice under head coach Doc Rivers, and comes after the most of the team last saw the court on Feb. 15 in Memphis. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley spent last weekend in Indianapolis for all-star festivities.

“We got done a lot,” Rivers said. “It’s tough, the day after the break the first practice usually is awful but this wasn’t a bad practice. I thought our guys overall had decent focus, typical fumbles – that’s what happens, usually the first game is that, too – but I think the break is better now because you come out of the break, it’s not like you get 40 games. You got 26 games. You gotta get to it. So, that probably helps teams coming out of the break. We’ll see.”

Danilo Gallinari practices for first time with Bucks

The team welcomed in their newest addition, too, in 35-year-old forward Danilo Gallinari. He was officially signed late Wednesday night and practiced with the team on Thursday.

“The way that I play, I’m a very versatile type of player so I can play in any system, with any player, so looking at the bigs that we got I think that I fit. That was one of the reasons why I chose this team is because I think that I can fit in very well. Very excited.”

Gallinari, who was waived by Detroit on Feb. 8, entertained offers from other contenders but settled on the Bucks due to his relationship with Rivers. Gallinari played 89 games for Rivers with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2017-19, averaging 18.7 points per game while shooting 40.8% from behind the three-point line.

“I’ve worked with a lot of people that are working in this franchise and I believe in the stuff that we can do with this team,” Gallinari said. “Of course, after talking with Doc – I worked with Doc for two years in L.A. so I know him very well – so I really believe in this group.”

But after a solid season in Oklahoma City in 2019-20 (18.7 points per game, 40.5% three-point shooting), Gallinari has played 149 of a possible 286 games over the last four years. He missed the entire 2022-23 season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament, which was the second time he ruptured that ACL (2013-14).

In 32 games in Washington and Detroit this season, Gallinari played 15 minutes per game. He is hoping for a more expansive role with the Bucks over the final 26 games of the regular season. Rivers said he has not spoken to Gallinari yet about his minutes, and for his part the veteran forward said he’s not concerned with what those could be.

“I mean, I definitely could’ve played more than those minutes but here I’m just here to help, whatever needs to be done on the court,” Gallinari said. “I don’t care about playing every night, not playing one night, play the other night, I’m here to help. So whatever needs to be done I’m here to do and help. I’m not looking for guaranteed minutes or this kind of stuff. I’m just here to help.”

In 48 career playoff games he’s shot 34.1% from behind the three-point line. He was a member of the 2021 Atlanta Hawks, which lost to the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Gallinari has battled a variety of injuries throughout the 14 seasons he has played, but he is a career 38.2% three-point shooter and has averaged 15.2 points per game. The Bucks are his eighth team. He is not considered a strong defender at this stage in his career, but the Bucks hope his shooting and passing can help open more offensive options in the halfcourt.

“He was great, it was an easy of a fit as you could have,” Rivers said. “With the second group with Bobby (Portis) and him it’s a five and a four, that’s pretty good. Pretty big, great shooting, knows how to play, so he’s going to be a really good fit for us.”

What is the latest on Khris Middleton?

The Bucks have been without all-star forward Khris Middleton for six of the last 10 games since Doc Rivers took over on the sidelines – the last five of which came after Middleton landed on Kevin Durant’s foot eight minutes into the Bucks’ loss to Phoenix on Feb. 6.

After the Bucks lost to Memphis on Feb. 15, Rivers said after the game he wasn’t sure when the 32-year-old forward would return.

On Thursday, Middleton was in Minnesota but did not practice. He did go through the team’s walkthrough and shot after practice. Rivers said Middleton is most likely out for Friday’s game against Minnesota and Sunday’s game in Philadelphia.

“It’s just the ankle, it’s getting better, it feels great, he just doesn’t feel 100%,” Rivers said. “Clearly, playoff game he could clearly play. But, no. It’s too early. No reason to worry about it or panic about it.”

In 43 games this season, Middleton is averaging 14.8 points, 5.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 37.8% from behind the three-point line. In his last 25 full games from Dec. 7-Feb. 3 when his minute restriction was lifted, Middleton averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds.

Bucks fire assistant coach Nate Mitchell

Prior to their first practice following the all-star break, head coach Doc Rivers fired assistant coach Nate Mitchell. Mitchell was hired by former coach Adrian Griffin over the summer after spending 2021-23 in Toronto with Griffin. Mitchell also served as an assistant with the Charlotte Hornets (2018-21) and spent a couple seasons in the G League. Mitchell also has international coaching experience, working for the Canadian program.

After he was hired on Jan. 26 Rivers hired Dave Joerger, Rex Kalamian and Pete Dominguez as assistants, giving the team 11 coaches heading into the all-star break.

“We’re just trying to get the right numbers,” Rivers said of the move of dismissing Mitchell. “You could make the case we’re still over the number and so we just gotta get to a working staff. And, that’s what we’re doing.”

Rivers was non-committal on if he would make any further changes.

“There could be,” he said. “I’m not saying there will be, but there could be.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Khris Middleton's status is updated as Bucks practice in Minnesota