For weeks, there have been rumors that Kevin Porter Jr. would opt out of his player option to test the free agent market over simply returning to the Milwaukee Bucks. Indeed, The Athletic's Eric Nehm and Fred Katz report that is the case. Porter's decision adds another key objective to Milwaukee's to-do list as they aim to retool the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer.
The Bucks can likely retain Kevin Porter Jr.
Although he's opting out of a minimum contract, Porter likely won't command more on the free agent market. The guard, acquired mid-season, played fine basketball with the Bucks, averaging 11.7 points and 3.7 assists while shooting 40.8 percent from deep, but he won't sit atop the free agent big boards for many teams. He likely wants a little raise, and the Milwaukee Bucks can offer that.
Retaining Porter will likely call for the Bucks dipping into their midlevel exception. With rumors making the rounds that Gary Trent Jr. will command somewhere between $8-$10 million, the Bucks would be able to offer Porter the rest of that $14 million exception, somewhere between $4-$6 million. It would be a justifiable use of their midlevel tool, giving Milwaukee their likely starting backcourt next season.
Porter had his shortcomings in a Bucks jersey, but keeping him would make plenty of sense. With the star point guard, Damian Lillard, injured and likely to miss most of next year, the Milwaukee Bucks are in need of a guard who can create shots for himself and teammates. Porter has shown glimpses of this during his career, and an entire season with the Bucks could do him some good.
During his two seasons in Houston, where he served as a starter night in and night out, Porter put up 17.3 points, six assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. If he were to earn the starting nod as Milwaukee's new point guard next season, the hope would be that he could get back to that level of play. A deal worth a little above the minimum would be justifiable if that ends up being the case.
There's also a world where the Milwaukee Bucks lose Kevin Porter Jr. If that happens, the good news is that they may already have a replacement on the roster waiting for a bigger role. Free agency is on the horizon, and the Bucks should be busy.
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