Milwaukee Bucks: 3 impending free agents likeliest to return next season
By Dalton Sell
Bobby Portis could return to the Milwaukee Bucks next season
It did not take long to see that Bobby Portis and the Bucks were a perfect match from the moment the big man signed with the team during the last offseason.
The big man has reiterated on multiple occasions how he turned down more significant offers elsewhere to come and compete for a championship with the Bucks. He played a key role for them this season, providing the second unit with a dose of tenaciousness that seemed widespread. That ever-energetic presence quickly turned Portis into a fan favorite, and his 16 point performance in Game 6 cemented his place in this team’s history forever.
Portis holds a player option worth $3.7 million for next season, a deal he has unquestionably outplayed after a sensational season. While the 26-year-old has consistently preached about how money is not everything, no one could fault him for opting out to seek a more lucrative deal as he ponders his future. The players, front office, and city of Milwaukee would like nothing more than to welcome Portis back for another season, as they would do so with open arms.
The biggest question will be if he does indeed opt-out in the first place, and if so, just what type of deal he will be seeking. Given his importance to the Bucks throughout the regular season and this triumphant playoff run, the team will likely not let him get one foot out the door before they begin looking to negotiate a deal. He has unquestionably earned it, and it seems like there should be mutual interest between the team and the player to get a deal done, despite money being tight.
Other teams will offer more money than Milwaukee just as they did last offseason, but the question is whether or not a big payday is what he is after. After helping the Bucks win their first title in 50 years, the big man’s desire to win will not yet be fading away anytime soon, and he could be in the perfect situation to contend for the foreseeable future.
Next. Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo is the perfect face of the league. dark
Perhaps this is the optimist talking, but Portis has become just a seamless fit for both the city and the team that sticking around would certainly make sense.