For the umpteenth time in the Giannis Antetokounmpo era of Bucks basketball, Milwaukee is exploring the market for Bobby Portis Jr. The difference is that this time, they actually need to pull the trigger instead of backing out at the last second like they always do.
Specifically, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Bucks have gauged the trade value of forwards Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis Jr. on the market across the league. Interestingly, Portis' name has also come up in talks with the Sacramento Kings in exploratory conversations involving Keon Ellis and Malik Monk.
The Sacramento conversations involving Keon Ellis and Malik Monk are exactly the type of deal Milwaukee should be pursuing. Ellis is a legitimate defensive guard who can actually guard opposing ball handlers, something the Bucks desperately need. Monk provides instant offense off the bench with better efficiency than Bobby's ever shown.
It's about time the Bucks figure out what to do with Bobby Portis
The franchise's attachment to Portis is understandable, of course. He's been there through championship runs, he connects with fans, and perhaps most importantly, he represents the culture Milwaukee wants to project. But none of that matters if keeping him prevents the team from maximizing Giannis's championship window.
If the Bucks were to trade him, the return better be worth it. And in this case, both players actually do fit the athletic, versatile identity Doc Rivers supposedly wants. Both address actual roster weaknesses (scoring and defense) instead of just swapping similar players. This is the kind of trade that makes Milwaukee better, even if it hurts emotionally to lose Portis. They're obviously not championship-winning players per se, but they do make sense value-wise in a potential Portis trade.
But here's the problem: the Bucks have explored trades like this before and always backed out. This has been well documented in the past few seasons. They get to the finish line, fans start panicking about losing Portis, ownership gets cold feet about the optics, and suddenly the deal dies despite making basketball sense.
Sacramento's apparently willing to discuss real rotation players for Portis and salary filler. That's a better return than Milwaukee will get if they wait until Portis' contract expires or his value craters further. Strike while there's actual interest instead of holding out for some mythical perfect deal that never materializes.
The Bucks have dodged this decision for years, hoping Portis would magically start fitting better or that the problem would solve itself. Neither happened. He's still the same player with the same limitations that conflict with Milwaukee's modern roster construction. Right now, he's in the 13th percentile in offensive rating and the 41st percentile in defensive rating. In short, he's generally been a net negative in his minutes so far.
Sacramento's offering a path forward. Milwaukee needs to take it instead of retreating back into the same pattern of indecision that's defined their approach to Portis for three straight years.
Either trade him or commit to keeping him. This perpetual "exploring the market" routine helps nobody and prevents the Bucks from making decisive moves that could actually improve the team.
The inevitable Bobby Portis Jr. decision has been put off long enough. For the first time, it might be time to actually make it.