Khris Middleton is “trending in the direction” of debuting Friday at New Orleans, Wizards coach Brian Keefe said.

Keefe said it is still to be determined whether Washington's starters will play, so any debut could be short.

The Wizards have called his absence a conditioning plan. He has sat every exhibition so far.

Middleton returned in July on a three-year, $17.6 million sign-and-trade after averaging 10.2 points last season.

Washington appears more focused on having the 35-year-old ready for games that count next week.

File photo (September 2025): Khris Middleton at Wizards media day. Joe Glorioso / All-Pro Reels · CC BY-SA 4.0.

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