Kevin Porter Jr. will at least test the free agent market this summer, as multiple outlets have reported that the guard will more than likely decline his player option. If the Milwaukee Bucks aren't willing to meet his asking price or if he leaves for whatever reason, they will need someone to fill his shoes, and fellow guard Ryan Rollins may be the perfect fit for the job.
Rollins could produce big things for the Milwaukee Bucks next year
Ryan Rollins will join Kevin Porter Jr. in free agency in the coming weeks. However, Rollins is set to be a restricted free agent, meaning keeping him will be much easier. The Milwaukee Bucks should make it a priority to keep him, especially after this update on Porter.
It didn't take long for Rollins, who started last season on a two-way, to cement himself as one of the team's better hidden gem finds in recent memory. The guard quickly became Milwaukee's backup point guard before eventually becoming a plug-in starter for Doc Rivers. Even then, it felt like he was underutilized greatly, so if they bring him back, the Bucks' pitch could center around a bigger role.
There's plenty to like about Rollins. Offensively, he can shoot the long ball (40.8 percent in 2024-25) and attack the hoop with authority. When comparing the two, Porter undeniably has more upside in terms of shot-creation and bucket-getting. However, Rollins is no slouch either and could develop in that regard with a bigger role.
Defense is where Rollins mainly shines. He uses his 6-foot-4 height and 6-foot-9 wingspan to hound matchups of all shapes and sizes. With that type of build and defensive intensity, Rollins is exactly the type of vicious guard defender the Milwaukee Bucks need in the backcourt. A pivotal next step for him could be guarding the opposing team's best guards nightly next season.
At 22, Rollins is still incredibly young, and last season was his first legitimate taste of consistent NBA action. There is undeniably still room for him to grow. If Kevin Porter Jr. does indeed walk, in addition to Damian Lillard being out with an Achilles injury, Rollins would have a clear pathway to re-signing with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency and winning the starting point guard job.
There's also a scenario where the Milwaukee Bucks bring back both Rollins and Porter to continue building off what the eye-catching one-two punch showed late last season.
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