Latest news with #KevinPorterJr
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bucks linked to former league MVP to replace Damian Lillard
The Milwaukee Bucks could still use another guard, but it's also important to note that the team lacks a competent wing. Over the past few years, the Bucks haven't done a great job of bringing in a wing, and as they've seen in previous seasons, this becomes an issue when they play some of the better teams in the NBA, such as the Boston Celtics. However, regarding the guard spot, outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo occasionally playing point guard, the Bucks aren't in the best spot at the position. With Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr., who are both decent players in their own right, the Bucks could still improve. According to a recent report from Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, one of the players they could fix that with is former league MVP Russell Westbrook. "The expectation surrounding the Bucks is that they will be utilizing one of their final roster spots to add extra guard depth after bringing back Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins in free agency. Given Westbrook's athleticism and speed, he would be an ideal fit next to Giannis Antetokounmpo on a Bucks team that likes to push the pace in transition,' Siegel wrote.. When the Bucks are at their best over the past few years, it's when they get out running and hit open shots in transition. MORE: Westbrook would allow them to do that more than others, but adding him wouldn't exactly help everything. Sure, the idea of Westbrook and Antetokounmpo playing together on a fast break would be must-see TV, but outside of that, there isn't much intrigue in this pairing. Westbrook doesn't align with the Bucks' approach to their shooting, and he's quite old.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard Depth Chart After Free Agency
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 25: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks has his shot blocked by ... More Kevin Porter Jr. #77 of the LA Clippers in front of Ivica Zubac #40 during a 127-117 loss to the Clippers at Intuit Dome on January 25, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) The Milwaukee Bucks' point guard group has undergone some serious reshuffling this offseason—and it's going to look a lot different when the 2025-26 season tips off. The biggest move was also the most surprising: the Bucks waived Damian Lillard. Not only that, they chose to stretch his contract, meaning he'll count $22.5 million against their cap for the next five years. That's a tough financial hit, but Milwaukee believed it was necessary. Lillard is expected to miss most of the season while recovering from a torn Achilles, and there's no telling how much he'd have left in the tank when he came back. In his place, the Bucks pivoted and used their freed-up cap space to land Myles Turner—an ideal two-way complement to Giannis Antetokounmpo, even if he can't match Lillard's offensive output. With Dame out of the picture, here's a breakdown of Milwaukee's point guard depth chart with most of free agency settled. 1. Kevin Porter Jr. It's Kevin Porter Jr.'s job to lose. He's projected to be the starting point guard and has all the tools to handle the gig—flashes of brilliance included. He had big-time moments last year, like the 24-12-8 performance in an overtime win against Miami. But there were also rough patches. Consistency is key this season. Porter has the size (6-foot-4 and 203 pounds) and skill to swing between both guard spots, which gives Doc Rivers lineup flexibility—especially in stretches when Giannis is on the bench. Expect Porter to get the first crack at running the show, but he'll have competition pushing him all year. 2. Ryan Rollins Rollins had a breakout 2024-25 campaign when he averaged career-highs in points (6.2), rebounds (1.9) and assists (1.9). He's hoping to level up again in 2025-26. Rollins is solid on both sides of the court. He uses his athleticism and pterodactyl wingspan (nearly 6-foot-10) to disrupt passing lanes. He also knocked down 40 percent of his three-point attempts. If he keeps developing, there's a real case to be made that Rollins could challenge for the starting job at some point. Either way, he should be in the mix for a larger role and will see plenty of minutes off the bench. 3. Cole Anthony The Bucks snagged Anthony late in free agency, and it could turn out to be one of the steals of the summer. After starting all 65 games in 2021-22, he slid down Orlando's depth chart the past couple years and is hungry for a fresh start. In Milwaukee, he may not start, but his role as a bench spark plug is clear. He can get buckets in a hurry, attack off the dribble, and create offense—even if his jumper still needs work. If he settles in quickly, Anthony could become a key contributor off the bench. 4. Mark Sears (Two-Way) Undrafted rookie Mark Sears signed a two-way deal after the draft and brings scoring pedigree to the roster. He averaged over 18 points per game in three of his final four college seasons, but he's been sidelined during Summer League with a calf injury. At 6-foot-1, Sears is undersized for the league, and his defense will need work. He's more of a long-term project who likely won't see real NBA minutes this year unless injuries pile up. Final Word This is the first time in a while the Bucks have gone into a season without a true difference-maker at point guard. But they've got depth, youth, and plenty of upside in the room. Whether that's enough to keep pace in the East without Lillard remains to be seen—but the battle for minutes should be one of the most competitive storylines to watch all season long.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
9-Time All-NBA Linked to the Bucks as Damian Lillard's Replacement: Report
9-Time All-NBA Linked to the Bucks as Damian Lillard's Replacement: Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Milwaukee Bucks might not be done with the NBA free agency. After the surprising move to release All-Star guard Damian Lillard, the Bucks are looking to strengthen their backcourt depth for the 2025-26 season. So far, they've resigned Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins as the guards. Advertisement Amid their search to toughen their roster, a new star player emerged as a potential candidate. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Bucks are a team to watch to pursue the nine-time All-NBA guard, Russell Westbrook. The former league MVP remains unsigned after his one-year stint with the Denver Nuggets. Although he isn't the same player as he once was, Westbrook could give Milwaukee's backcourt a boost. Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrate as the clock winds McLoone-Imagn Images Siegel reported on Tuesday that the Bucks are expected to use their final roster spot to acquire a guard. 'In recent days, another team has suddenly emerged as a possible suitor for Westbrook: the Milwaukee Bucks. The expectation surrounding the Bucks is that they will be utilizing one of their final roster spots to add extra guard depth after bringing back Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins in free agency,' Siegel wrote. Advertisement 'Given Westbrook's athleticism and speed, he would be an ideal fit next to Giannis Antetokounmpo on a Bucks team that likes to push the pace in transition.' Last season, Westbrook appeared in 75 games for the Nuggets, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists. His speed and athleticism gave the team much-needed energy whenever he came off the bench. The Bucks could use his contributions, which vary from scoring, rebounding and facilitating. The downside, however, is his unreliable outside stroke. But he's still productive, even in the playoffs. He put up 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 39.1% shooting from the field in 13 games. Related: Bucks Officially Announce Move for $107 Million Star on Monday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Magic Deal Blow to Bucks on Saturday With Latest Move
Magic Deal Blow to Bucks on Saturday With Latest Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports. NBA Free Agency is in full swing, and teams are making serious moves to reshape their futures. While some squads are stacking up talent and building momentum, others, like the Milwaukee Bucks, are facing more uncertainty than they'd hoped for. With minimal major signings and a few key changes, it is definitely a dream Bucks didn't expect in offseason. Advertisement The Bucks have already waived young forward Chris Livingston, signaling a shift in priorities. They did re-sign Kevin Porter Jr., who's expected to take over starting point guard duties, but fans remain skeptical. The roster shuffle continues, but Saturday brought another blow, this time from the Orlando Magic. Joe Prunty calls during a NBA GameKelley L Cox-Imagn Images According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, longtime Bucks assistant coach Joe Prunty is heading to Orlando to join Jamahl Mosley's growing staff. He'll be joined by the legendary God Shammgod in what's turning into one of the league's most exciting assistant lineups. 'Orlando is indeed adding Bucks assistant Joe Prunty as well as God Shammgod,' Stein reported. Advertisement Prunty has had two different stints with the Bucks, dating back to 2014. He even served as interim head coach in 2018, leading the team to a competitive seven-game playoff series. Well-regarded by fans and players alike, his departure leaves a leadership void on Doc Rivers' staff. But Milwaukee may already have a replacement in mind. Rajon Rondo, who spent last season as a guest coach, is reportedly a strong candidate to join the coaching staff full-time. Doc Rivers once called Rondo 'the smartest player he's ever coached,' and his presence could be crucial in developing the Bucks' young backcourt. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Magic are having a standout offseason, adding Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones, and two promising rookies Jase Richardson and Noah Penda while now boosting their sideline game with elite minds like Prunty. Related: Bucks Pushing to Pair Former $120 Million Star With Giannis Antetokounmpo This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bucks retain Kevin Porter Jr.
The Lakers appear to have their starting center. Meanwhile, the Knicks are nearing a deal for Tom Thibodeau's replacement. Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Bringing Kevin Porter Jr. back for the 2025-26 season at an affordable rate (two years, $11 million, according to The Athletic's Fred Katz) was one of the moves that made the most sense for the Bucks this offseason. Porter is only 25 and gives the Bucks an upside play at point guard with Damian Lillard expected to miss most of the regular season as he recovers from surgery on a torn left Achilles tendon. In his first 16 games with the Bucks, Porter averaged 10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 16.4 minutes per game. Once Lillard went down with the diagnosis of a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, Porter averaged 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game in 24.7 minutes per game, as he took on a bigger role. In that larger role, Porter thrived and earned a place in Doc Rivers' playoff rotation. After some initial struggles in the postseason, Porter found his footing and played well in both Game 4 (23 points, five rebounds and six assists) and Game 5 (11 points, three rebounds and seven assists) against the Indiana Pacers In a second season with the Bucks, Porter should have plenty of opportunity on the ball. Getting to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo more consistently should be a huge help. In 541 possessions on the floor together — which was only about 270 minutes, a very small sample — the two-man combination of Antetokounmpo and Porter was plus-20.1 points per 100 possessions. They scored 125 points per 100 possessions and gave up just 104.9 points per 100 possessions. Per Cleaning the Glass, the offensive production was in the 97th percentile and the defensive production was in the 98th percentile. The Michael Porter for Cam Johnson trade is all about cap management for Denver. The Nuggets just turned a $40 million player into a $20 million player, and in doing so, they opened up millions in breathing room to spend on upgrading their dilapidated depth. Denver is now $9.7 million below the tax line, and I don't expect the Nuggets to go back above it due to the repeater penalty. However, the Nuggets have enough breathing room to use most of their nontaxpayer midlevel exception and could potentially use even more if they waive and stretch Dario Saric. Note that Johnson's salary included an extra $3.6 million that counts toward the tax aprons because of his unlikely incentives, but for the Nuggets, the bigger deal this season is likely to avoid the tax entirely because they are subject to the repeater penalty. Getty Images Interesting decision by the Nuggets to offload Michael Porter Jr. They will save $17.3 million in salary this upcoming season and 37 million altogether with that move, exchanging one sweet shooting wing for another. The downside is that they also lost a 2033 unprotected pick. Nikola Jokic will be 36 during the 2032-32 season, so it is a dicey move. Ty Jerome has agreed to a three-year, $28 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources tell The Athletic. Jerome, a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in 2024-25, gives the Grizzlies an instant-offense option off their bench. He can also fill some of the shooting void Memphis lost after trading its top marksman, Desmond Bane, to the Orlando Magic earlier this offseason. A year ago, Jerome was fighting for a home on an NBA roster. Now, he has a long-term commitment from a winning team. Assuming a declining money deal for Santi Aldama starting at $18.8 million, the Grizzlies are $26 million below the tax line with two open roster spots. One of them will be filled with their $8.8 million room exception, but with the rest of Memphis float below the tax line, don't be shocked if the Grizzlies look to trades that take on additional money to get a better player in the door, perhaps in concert with one of the future firsts received from Orlando from Desmond Bane. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's $21.6 million expiring deal, in particular, seems like a prime candidate to be repackaged. The Denver Nuggets are trading Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson, team sources confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN was first to report news of the trade. Porter Jr. averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for Denver last season and was a part of the franchise's first title run in 2023. Johnson, meanwhile, averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in just 57 games after dealing with a nagging ankle injury during the 2024-25 campaign. Read more here. GO FURTHER Nuggets trading Michael Porter Jr., first-round pick to Nets for Cam Johnson: Sources Free agent point guard Dennis Schröder has agreed to a contract with the Sacramento Kings, league sources tell The Athletic. The details of the deal are not yet known. Schröder's addition will give the Kings the lead ballhandler they knew they needed heading into the commencement of free agency. GO FURTHER Dennis Schröder agrees to deal with Kings, his 10th NBA team That two-year, $11 million deal for Paul Reed may be for the room exception; it depends on whether the Pistons decide to use cap room in the free agent market or operate as an "over-the-cap" team and use Bird Rights and the nontaxpayer midlevel exception. Rob Gray / Imagn Free agent big man Paul Reed has agreed to re-sign with the Detroit Pistons for two years and $11 million, a league source confirmed. ESPN was first to report. Getty Images Jake LaRavia's deal with the Lakers appears to be for the taxpayer midlevel exception (technically $11.7 million for two years), which would be unusual behavior for a team that is $15 million below the tax line ... unless something else is going on. Ezra Shaw / Getty Images The Lakers get their top wing target with Dorian Finney-Smith off the board: Jake LaRavia, a league source confirmed. LaRavia's deal is for two years and $12 million. The Lakers quickly pivoted to LaRavia when it became clear that Dorian Finney-Smith would be signing with Houston. LaRavia, who turns 24 in November, is represented by Aaron Reilly, Reggie Berry and the AMR agency — the team that also works with Austin Reaves. He shot 42.3 percent from three last season with Memphis and Sacramento. One other Grizzlies note: While cutting and stretching Cole Anthony will get them most of the way there on a max extension for Jaren Jackson, Jr., one possible way to bridge the last few hundred thousand is by having rookie Cedric Coward take less than 120 percent of the rookie scale amount. Memphis could also get to the right number on Jackson by combining a buyout with a stretch on Anthony; if he takes a haircut equal to the veteran minimum, it gives the Grizzlies almost exactly the $10 million in salary wiggle room they need to get to Jackson's number. Either way, the long-expected John Konchar trade to make this money happen is apparently not on the table; Jitty is still a Grizzly. Getty Images One thing next year's lower cap guidance did is slightly change the maximum extension for Jaren Jackson Jr. and also slightly lower how much cap room the Grizzlies need to generate to get there. Jackson's deal, initially reported at $240 million, will now be $236 million, including $224 million in the four years following 2025-26. Memphis will need to adjust his salary upward by $12.05 million to get there; the Grizzlies already are $3.2 million below the cap and will need to generate $8.85 million in new room. The Houston Rockets somehow went all in without using all of their chips. They acquired an all-time talent in Kevin Durant, a guy in his late 30s who should, in a vacuum, have taken giving away their future to get. But it didn't. Now, they have added Dorian Finney-Smith, a capable 3-point shooter and more than capable defender who fits on any winning team. They are better — maybe way better, especially considering all of their young players who could improve next season — and didn't have to give up their most valuable draft picks, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason or Jabari Smith to make it happen. They didn't change their identity. Durant can still guard. Finney-Smith will fit with their relentless, long-armed, athletic defensive style. They extended Smith. They re-signed Fred VanVleet to a reasonable, short-term contract. The Rockets are set up like few other teams in basketball right now. Getty Images Four years, $53 million for Dorian Finney-Smith from the Rockets, per our Dan Woike, appears to be a full midlevel exception offer from Houston, except one that declines by 5 percent for the next two years and then goes flat in a fourth-year team option. Adding in minimum deals for Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday and Jae' Sean Tate, and assuming they waive Jock Landale's $8 million non-guaranteed contract, the Rockets are $5 million over the tax ... but still far enough below the first apron to sign one more player if they wish to upgrade Nate Williams' non-guaranteed roster spot. The Lakers will lose a true 3-and-D player and an amazing locker room presence in Dorian Finney-Smith. He's a hilarious dude who players, Luka Dončić especially, loved. But four years with the Lakers long-term plans just didn't align. He gets the longterm deal he sought from Houston. Dorian Finney-Smith and the Houston Rockets have agreed on a four-year, $53 million contract, league sources confirmed to The Athletic . The 32-year-old Finney-Smith's arrival — giving Ime Udoka another physical two-way forward — is the latest indication that the Rockets are pushing their chips to center of the championship table. Page 2
