The Milwaukee Bucks have not made the flashiest moves in free agency like other contenders thus far, but their decision-making has been interesting.
First and foremost, the clear consensus at the moment is that the Bucks made a rather large mistake letting P.J. Tucker walk despite holding his Bird Rights. Not only did they lose one of their key contributors from their title run, but they paved the way for him to immediately sign with one of their biggest rivals today in the Miami Heat. That one will sting for quite some time.
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Aside from that dilemma, the Bucks have been rather quiet throughout the first few days of free agency. That will certainly be the case when spending money is finite as it currently is with the Bucks.
Yet, they have added a few recognizable names off the market to try and round out their roster ahead of next season. While the newcomers might not be the most star-studded individuals, let us take a look at what each will give the Bucks next year.
Bobby Portis brings hustle, rebounding, and scoring to the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee’s first move of the 2021 offseason was inking Bobby Portis to a two-year deal worth $9 million, with the second year being a player option.
Despite reports from The Athletic’s Shams Charania that the forward had received much more lucrative offers from the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, Portis opted to return to the Bucks on a very team-friendly deal. Given how crucial the 26-year-old proved to be throughout the team’s title run, retaining him at all would have been a massive win, but doing so on such a reasonable deal only heightens that.
Considering he played on the title-winning team and cemented his status as a fan-favorite in the city forever, everyone knows what Portis brings to the table. From the very moment he checks in, the big man will give his all every single night. He has an endless motor that gave this team a spark all of last season, which will be the case next season too. Whether it be fighting for a board, diving on a loose ball, or staying active defensively, Portis will always be hustling.
In addition to his energetic presence, the Bucks will certainly enjoy having his scoring touch off the bench. Portis averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting the ball with career-best efficiency last season, which undeniably helped keep things running smoothly. Despite the production from the second unit being hit or miss, Portis was oftentimes the key reserve that the Bucks could rely on when they needed a boost.