The Milwaukee Bucks rank second-to-last in rebounds per game at 40.4 this season. They trail only the Brooklyn Nets, who average 40.3. Their inability to outrebound opponents has been a prominent issue this year, and it will continue to haunt them until they make a move to bring in a player who can fight for boards. That further justifies their rumored interest in Michael Porter Jr.
Bucks would be wise to add a rebounder like Michael Porter Jr.
In his first year with the Brooklyn Nets, Porter is averaging a career-high 7.5 rebounds per matchup. Utilizing his 6-foot-10 stature, the forward is constantly hauling in boards. Even when he was playing with other bigger players like Nikola Jokic or Aaron Gordon in Denver, he averaged over seven per game during the last two seasons. The Bucks need that.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 10 boards per game, but everyone else has been far too quiet. Bobby Portis is second on the team with 6.4 per contest, the fewest he's averaged in a Bucks jersey. Myles Turner averages 5.5, tied for a career low. Kyle Kuzma's 4.9 per game are the second-fewest he's averaged in the NBA. You get the point. The Milwaukee Bucks need rebounding. Badly.
If they don't address this need sooner rather than later, the Milwaukee Bucks will only continue to dig themselves into a deeper hole. They are 14-20. Not rebounding well enough is not the only reason for this, but opponents constantly having second chances and more opportunities in general have undeniably hurt this team. It's time to recognize this flaw and address it before it's too late.
The Athletic's Sam Amick (subscription required) reports that Michael Porter Jr. is indeed a name to watch for the Bucks as trade season heats up. He's not the perfect trade target by any means, but he could at least help with the rebounding woes. For a team that has been stuck in the mud for the whole year, that could be a massive shot in the arm.
Rebounding aside, Porter could also help spark some offense. He's averaging career highs in points (25.8) and assists (3.8), both of which could be useful in taking some pressure off of Giannis. Even if those numbers go down a bit playing with a star like the Greek Freak, it's clear that the forward still has the tools to help out.
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