Myles Turner's sudden move to join the Milwaukee Bucks was a huge risk for the franchise, and things aren't going according to plan as the center has found himself quietly losing minutes to Bobby Portis in recent weeks.
Bucks and Turner need him to be more aggressive
When Turner put pen to paper this offseason, it was a bold move and one that felt very reasonable to pair him alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in the frontcourt. His offensive game suits the Bucks perfectly, but without their two-time MVP, Turner's lack of aggression is clear and is costing him.
Over the last five games, Turner has seen his minutes dip below the 30-minute mark, averaging 24 minutes, and has scored just 10.6 points and 2.4 rebounds during that span. To the surprise of many heading into the season, over the same stretch, Portis is averaging 15.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in 23 minutes.
Turner's defensive versatility was another key reason for him signing in Wisconsin, but his +/- is -9.6 per game over the previous five games, resulting in the Bucks being 48 points worse off with him on the court.
Portis has been a real positive for the Bucks of late, with his 27 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Boston Celtics being a standout performance amid a tough spell for the team. During his time in Milwaukee, Portis has given fans both adulation and frustration, but his aggression on offense is something Turner isn't currently offering, leading Doc Rivers to rely more on his sixth man than on his huge free-agent signing.
The cycle of reports surrounding Giannis' future with the team is tough to dissect to differentiate the rumor mill and the truth of the situation. One talking point that has popped up recently is that, should the Greek Freak be moved, the Bucks could then move Turner as well, as they look to rebuild.
There will still be a spell of time with Giannis missing time due to injury, and the Bucks are still so reliant on Turner and Portis in the frontcourt. With Turner struggling to offer an offensive punch and crash the glass, it won't be a surprise to see Portis taking even more of his minutes. However, the defense Turner offers will likely keep him in the starting five as the team looks to switch, but Rivers has a decision to make.
Turner has only been in Milwaukee for a matter of months, so there is plenty of time for things to change and the team to improve as a whole. If he doesn't find a way to be a go-to guy on offense, which he has never been asked to do before, then he may find himself on the list of Bucks moves that just didn't work out.