NBA Draft 2019 Prospect Watch: Jontay Porter
Fit with the Bucks
Like all teams around the league, the Bucks are facing quite the decision when it comes to the possibility of selecting Porter in this year’s draft. Given the volatility surrounding him throughout the pre-draft process, there’s a good chance Milwaukee will have to address the question when their name is called on draft night.
In a profile on Porter written by Brendon Kleen over at The Step Back, the Bucks were one of a number of teams to meet with the center at this year’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago:
"“Among the teams Porter met with were the Lakers, Knicks, Pistons, Bucks and Nets. As of the writing of this story, ESPN had Porter at No. 42 in their 2019 Top 100. New York could look to take Porter at No. 55, whereas Milwaukee might see Porter as an option as high as No. 30.”"
It isn’t surprising to see the Bucks have some level of interest in Porter, considering he checks all of the boxes for what they prize out of the center position under head coach Mike Budenholzer. And with the uncertainty surrounding their pending frontcourt free agents, Porter would give the Bucks some cover on that front, should either one of Brook Lopez or Nikola Mirotic or both not return back to Milwaukee.
But as has been noted all throughout this piece, Porter’s injury and ongoing rehabilitation doesn’t put him on the current timeline the Bucks are on following their 60-win season and first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 18 years.
If the Bucks are confident that they’ll end up retaining Lopez or Mirotic, that might increase their willingness to take a flyer on a player that is as clearly talented as Porter has shown to be during his one year of action in Columbia.
But it won’t be without plenty of guidance to get Porter back into at least the player he was prior to his injury. And there’s a good chance that won’t be until the 2020-21 season at the very earliest, if everything goes smoothly.