The Milwaukee Bucks’ injury woes will indeed continue.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Bobby Portis is set to miss time with an MCL sprain he suffered in a recent win over the Pistons. There was a play where Portis landed awkwardly and exited the game, and while it seemed like nothing at first, it has now been confirmed to be an MCL sprain. Of course, the 150-130 win over the Pistons was the healthiest the Bucks have been all season, as Khris Middleton was back, but they will now have to deal with another key absence for the foreseeable future.
Milwaukee Bucks’ big man Bobby Portis is set to miss time with an MCL sprain
Losing Portis for an extended period of time will certainly hurt the Bucks. The big man was having a tremendous season by averaging a double-double, and his production will be missed. Of course, it does not help that the team is short on big man depth behind Brook Lopez after Serge Ibaka and the Bucks agreed to find the veteran a new home. The bridge between Ibaka and the team may be burned, so bringing him back may be out of the question.
Sandro Mamukelashvili will inevitably get an opportunity to play some meaningful minutes in the next few games due to that predicament. While they are not centers, Pat Connaughton, Joe Ingles, MarJon Beauchamp, and a few others will likely see their minutes increase, and they must step up to the plate to help keep this second unit afloat.
In addition to giving Mamukelashvili more minutes, the Bucks could also look externally for added reinforcements. They have been in hot pursuit of Jae Crowder for quite some time via trade, and a lack of depth in the frontcourt right now could force the Bucks to intensify their pursuit. Crowder does not fill the same holes that Portis does, but he could undoubtedly help by giving the Bucks another big body. If the team is looking for a true big man, they could look to utilize a 10-day contract for some short-term help.
Only time will tell how the Bucks plan to navigate Portis’ absence, but losing a Sixth Man of the Year candidate for an unknown period of time certainly stings. Charania delivered no timetable for Portis’ return, so all fans can do is wait and hope for the best. Get well soon, Bobby!
Stay tuned for updates on Bobby Portis’ health and when he may be back on the basketball court.