Milwaukee Bucks: Grades for Bobby Portis’ two-year $8 million deal
By Dalton Sell
What’s the grade on Bobby Portis’ deal with the Milwaukee Bucks?
Overall, this is a largely positive pickup for the Bucks. Aside from Antetokounmpo and Lopez, the team is rung dry of bodies in the frontcourt, and Portis helps bring forth some closure on that front.
The Bucks get a 25-year-old big man that continues to develop, showing significant signs of potential periodically. If anything, playing a meaningful role on a championship contending team could provide the opportunity to get the best out of Portis after how his career trajectory has gone to this point.
Portis brings aboard a hard-nosed physical presence that is not afraid to get his hands dirty and that should be of value to the Bucks. With the Bucks wanting to bring a little more toughness to the roster, Portis provides that with competitive drive. Let’s just hope his history of physical altercations during practice is a thing of the past.
With Portis on the books for about $8 million total for the next two seasons, though he does have that player option for next year, his contract is digestible, especially given his production and likely role. Portis clearly doesn’t tip the needle significantly, but he may prove to be an upgrade on the likes of Ersan Ilyasova, Marvin Williams, and the incumbent D.J. Wilson.
Next. Grades for Pat Connaughton’s three-year, $16 million deal. dark
That’s provided that Portis addresses his defensive shortcomings and only time will tell in that department. By coming to Milwaukee, promise surrounds Portis in a way that hasn’t occurred over his NBA career to this point and he will have to make good on that promise.