ST. FRANCIS, Wis. -- Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton missed practice Wednesday and is expected to be out a couple of days after having a medical procedure to remove a cyst.
Middleton observed the first of Milwaukee's two practices Wednesday from the sidelines.
"We'll re-evaluate him in a couple of days and see how he's doing," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "Hopefully he's back here shortly."
Entering his second season with the Bucks, Middleton will compete in training camp and the preseason for playing time at small forward and shooting guard. Middleton, who was acquired from Detroit as part of the Brandon Jennings trade, was the only player on the Bucks roster to play in all 82 games. The 23-year-old averaged 12.1 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 44.0 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc.
"That's part of training camp," Middleton said at the team's media day Monday. "Everybody has to fight for their spots, fight for their minutes in the rotation. We'll take it from there."
Exploring his options: With so much uncertainty surrounding his starting lineup and rotations, Kidd plans on using the preseason as a way to tinker around and test different combinations.
The Bucks begin preseason play in one week when they face the Memphis Grizzlies at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis., on Oct. 8.
"Don't judge me on preseason because we're going to play a lot of different combinations and there will be a lot of people starting and playing the role of coming off the bench," Kidd said. "We'll figure it out.
"It takes time. Throughout our training camp and preseason, it will shake itself out. You'll see combinations that work well together."
One combination Kidd may experiment with during the preseason is using the length of big men John Henson and Larry Sanders on the court at the same time. Former coach Larry Drew had aspirations of playing the two rim protectors together, but Henson and Sanders were rarely both healthy at the same time last season.
"You look at Henson, he's working extremely hard," Kidd said. "We're just talking summertime, by putting on the weight and doing the things we've asked him. They've responded to all the things we've asked. They had a great September and it's carried over to training camp."
No offense taken: When Brooklyn's Joe Johnson said the Nets didn't really practice much under Kidd last season, some saw it as the veteran guard taking a shot at his former coach.
"Jason Kidd? We practiced, but not really," Johnson said when asked what it would be like to play for new coach Lionel Hollins.
When asked about Johnson's comments Wednesday, Kidd brushed them off and didn't feel as if Johnson took a shot at him.
"We didn't (practice)," Kidd said. "We couldn't (practice) because we were hurt. That's just part of the game. What Joe said wasn't a shot. Unfortunately, people outside took it as a shot, but it wasn't a shot. We practiced when we could.
"We were an older group that had a lot of injuries. There are times you are going to practice, times you are going to do some walkthrough's as practice. You make sure the guys are fresh and ready for the games. That's the bottom line."
Familiar face: While the Bucks haven't officially announced Tim Grgurich as a member of the organization, the longtime NBA assistant coach has been working with players at practice the past two days.
The 72-year-old was an assistant coach under George Karl in Milwaukee from 2001-02 and has also served as an assistant coach Seattle, Denver and Phoenix. "He's here until he leaves, whenever he gets tired (of it)," Kidd said. "We're very lucky to have him.
"Nothing has changed about Grgs since the last time he was here. For us coaches, he's seen everything and can help us in different situations. Coaching a young team, coaching guys from different countries.
"He's been a part of rebuilding, he's been a part of championship teams. He's kind of the walking Google if we need something we haven't seen. He's kind of our security."
The week ahead: After a non-contact practice in the morning, the Bucks will wrap up Wednesday with a full-contact practice in the evening.
The team is off Thursday and will return to the practice floor Friday for two more practices prior to Saturday's open scrimmage and fan fest at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
"We'll give them a chance to regroup mentally and physically and then we'll come back Friday," Kidd said. "I believe if they do their work, they deserve a day off. We're throwing a lot at them, so mentally I want them fresh."
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