The Milwaukee Bucks made several difficult decisions before the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline passed.
Perhaps their most straightforward transaction, from a basketball perspective, was the last-second deal that involved swapping MarJon Beauchamp for Kevin Porter Jr. As a basketball player, Porter is by far the better player, and his potential to be even better is clear. This was a low-risk trade, as the Bucks gave up a player who scarcely played, but it could pay off in a big way on the court.
The Milwaukee Bucks need Kevin Porter Jr. to turn things around
With Khris Middleton out the door, the Milwaukee Bucks will dearly miss his smooth shot-creation and complementary facilitating. Even in a down year, Middleton showed that these two attributes were in his arsenal. Now, someone has to fill those shoes off the bench. Looking at the current second unit, the Bucks don't have a lot of guys who can do both.
While Gary Trent Jr. can generate offense for himself, he's never been much of a passer. The same goes for sharpshooting wing AJ Green. Bobby Portis has been better in both aspects lately, but he could certainly fall back into old habits at any point. Ryan Rollins has the chops to do both, but the guard has been stuck in the mud lately, taking a major step back compared to earlier this season.
Needing someone who can create all-around offense off the bench, the Bucks now have a player who can help in Kevin Porter Jr. Even during a down year, Porter is averaging 9.3 points and 3.2 assists per game. That is a far cry from the 15.5 points and five assists he averaged during his first four seasons, but at 24, the guard still has plenty of time to turn things around.
At his best, Porter is a smooth scorer who can put points on the board from anywhere on the court while also getting his teammates involved. Not to mention that he's also a strong threat in transition, something this team has desperately needed for quite some time. He has the potential to take some of the pressure off of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard on offense.
Any success Porter sees in Milwaukee starts with his efficiency. While that has never been his strong suit, even during his better years, it has been particularly noticeable this year. He's currently shooting 42.3 percent from the floor, 24.5 percent from three and 64.5 percent from the foul line. That type of production simply won't cut it for a contending team.
The Milwaukee Bucks took a swing on a younger guard with upside, and only time will tell if it pays off. They don't need Kevin Porter Jr. to be Khris Middleton, but he can provide some of the things that the Bucks are looking for with their former three-time All-Star gone.
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