Four wins on the bounce have put the Milwaukee Bucks back in a strong position towards the top end of the East as they now sit 24-17 on the season. At the halfway point of the season, it has to be a positive for the Bucks to be in this position following their very slow 2-9 start, as they have finally found their footing.
As they close the gap on the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, Milwaukee is still very much in trade rumors with the likes of Jimmy Butler and Bradley Beal still being named as potential targets to take the team to the next level.
One of the names touted as potentially being on the way out of Wisconsin is forward Bobby Portis. The 6-foot-10 big man is the most moveable of the Bucks role players, with him earning $12.5 million this season, creating greater options for a team to trade for him.
This season, he is averaging 13.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and two assists on shooting splits of .465/.366/.810. Portis' field goal and 3-point percentage are down slightly from last season, as the veteran has really struggled to garner consistency off the bench this season.
Should the Milwaukee Bucks move on from him, they have a ready-made replacement in the form of rookie Tyler Smith, who has impressed during his time with the Wisconsin Herd in the G-League.
Tyler Smith shines with the Herd, showing off athleticism in one play
One of the Milwaukee Bucks' biggest needs has been their frontcourt athleticism outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brook Lopez and Portis just don't have the athleticism or mobility to keep up with younger frontcourts that continue to be a problem for the Bucks. Tyler Smith was a well received second-round draft pick with an ability to stretch the floor and a fantastic vertical ability.
SMITH WITH THE STUFF 💪 pic.twitter.com/km7Vp4Cpxq
— Wisconsin Herd (@WisconsinHerd) January 19, 2025
Smith has featured in 20 games for the Herd this season, averaging 11.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a block per game on good shooting splits of .421/.319/.857. Pre-draft it was noted that Smith struggled defensively, but it has not been the case with him in the G-League, showing off great versatility and working on a part of his game that was a known weakness.
The forward has featured in 11 games for the Milwaukee Bucks, playing just 3.5 minutes per game, but again, he has been good with his shooting, making 64.3 percent of his shots from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range.
Smith is a ready-made long-term replacement for Portis but may be of use to the Bucks sooner than we all think. There is the potential for him to become a part of the team later on this season and give Doc Rivers options depending on the game state. The rookie is starting to show his potential with the Wisconsin Herd, and it's fascinating.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks news and analysis.