Milwaukee Bucks: Will Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis opt out of deals?

The Milwaukee Bucks will be looking to defend their title as World Champions when they take the floor next season.

They would certainly like to run it back in full with the same roster intact, but that is scarcely the case with teams year in and year out. By the time next season rolls around, the Bucks could very well be resuming things without a pair of players in the fold that proved to be key contributors en route to winning the franchise’s first title in 50 years.

Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis could realistically both opt-out of their player options with the Milwaukee Bucks for next season

It does not seem like a reach to believe Forbes will opt-out of his $2.5 million player option for next season. Despite his role in the rotation decreasing as the postseason progressed, his effort in the first round of the NBA Playoffs likely earned him a hefty raise.

Forbes was sensational to begin the postseason by breaking out against the Miami Heat and averaging 15 points on .525/.485/.667 shooting splits in the sweep. His electric sharpshooter was a massive boost for the Bucks off the bench, scoring in bunches to blow the series open. In fact, Forbes scored 60 points total in that series, which was two more than Jimmy Butler, Miami’s leading scorer during the regular season, scored in total.

Seeing just how impactful he was in that matchup, opposing teams will be lining up to make a pitch to the guard in free agency. Outside shooting is a massive factor in today’s NBA, and Forbes, who had the fourth-best 3-point percentage in the regular season at 45.2 percent this year, could be a significant addition for many teams. The Bucks are among them that could use his services, but he may have played himself well out of the team’s price range with their hands tied financially. Forbes will almost certainly opt-out to test the market and receive a nice payday in all likelihood.

As for Portis, his case appears more complex than meets the eye. With a decision to make on a player option worth $3.8 million next season, the big man has undoubtedly earned himself a raise following a fantastic playoff run. However, Portis himself told the media that money was not the motivation behind his decision to sign with the Bucks, but that winning was. He turned down far more lucrative offers to sign with the team last offseason for a chance to finally compete at the highest level, and it worked out perfectly in that regard.

Does that same line of thinking still resonate with the big man after winning his first title in just his second trip to the postseason? Would the fan-favorite potentially be willing to return on yet another team-friendly deal to run it back and keep his snug role in the rotation? These are just two of the most common question when it comes to evaluating what Portis might do. He is deserving of a hefty paycheck, and teams will unquestionably come calling this offseason with high-paying offers just as they did last time around.

In the event that Portis does indeed opt-out, he should be Milwaukee’s top priority to re-sign in free agency. Given how the big man has become so beloved in this city and how the Bucks can continue offering him a key role in a winning environment, one would think there would have to be some amount of mutual interest from the 26-year-old to return as well.

Only time will ultimately tell, but do not be surprised if both Forbes and Portis opt-out of their player options for next season.