Milwaukee Bucks fans were undoubtedly calling for a shakeup in the frontcourt rotation, but this was certainly not how they wanted it to come.
Sixth man Bobby Portis has been suspended by the NBA for 25 games due to violating the terms of the league's Anti-Drug Policy. According to Portis' agent, the big man accidentally took a medication called Tramadol, which is banned, thinking it was Toradol.
With the big man out of the lineup for the next 25 games, Doc Rivers will have to turn elsewhere to fill out his frontcourt rotation, and he will likely call on one Bucks newcomer.
Jericho Sims may have just earned a promotion with the Bucks
Plenty of Milwaukee Bucks fans have been wanting to see Jericho Sims in action since he was traded to the team at the deadline, and his time may be here.
Sims has yet to hit the hardwood in green, but on paper, he checks off a lot of boxes in terms of what this team needs at the center spot. He's an uber-athletic 6-foot-10 big man who can jump out of the gym for blocks and dunks. Fans wanted to see him so badly because that's the type of play the Bucks can't get from Portis and Brook Lopez, who have both had their ups and downs this season.
Sims alone won't be responsible for filling Portis' shoes, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and fellow new Buck Kyle Kuzma will also eat up some of those minutes. However, the big man will now be thrust into the rotation after not playing at all, and Milwaukee Bucks fans are expecting a lot. If he can be the breath of fresh air at center that many think he's capable of, Sims could earn his stripes quickly.
This is far from the type of update the Milwaukee Bucks wanted on their first day coming back from the All-Star break. For a team that needs to establish momentum and earn one of the top seeds in a tight Eastern Conference, losing a key bench piece is a tough blow. Beefing up depth was one of the Bucks' priorities at the deadline, and moves for Kuzma and Sims give them that.
Now, it's time to see if those moves can help this team stay afloat without Portis in the mix for the Milwaukee Bucks' foreseeable future.
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