Milwaukee Bucks: 3 offseason moves that have benefitted the Bucks
By Dalton Sell
Offseason moves that have benefitted the Milwaukee Bucks — Retooling the bench with a pair of underrated reserves
The Bucks had very little to work with financially this offseason in their reshaping of the roster, forcing them to get creative. This notably included signing Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes in free agency, two players that have been a staple in the rotation since the start of the season.
Milwaukee marked Portis’ fourth stop in three seasons, and at the time, he seemed like a serviceable piece to fill the void left behind from the departures of Ersan Ilyasova and Marvin Williams. However, the big man has been far more than just a fill-in as he’s quickly cemented his status as a fan-favorite among the Bucks’ fandom for his high-end intensity and production on the court each night.
In 22 games this season, Portis has been thriving offensively, having averaged 11.6 points while shooting career-highs in field goal (55.4) and 3-point percentage (48.9). Putting up the fourth-most points per game on this roster, Portis has been stellar in filling Milwaukee’s sixth man role.
Playing alongside Bobby Portis is another newcomer having a positive impact, that being Bryn Forbes. The Bucks were thrilled after they signed Forbes in the offseason because of his floor spacing capabilities. He has showcased that prowess early in Milwaukee, currently shooting 44 percent on 3.8 attempts from 3-point territory. Forbes has spent the most minutes this season in lineups paired alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they have been a stellar one-two punch offensively.
It goes without saying that Portis and Forbes have been thriving with the MBucks off the bench. On top of that, considering they will combine to make $6 million this year, this duo has proven to be a shrewd steal. Although Milwaukee’s bench has had its share of consistency issues, these two have undoubtedly been impressive.