Bobby Portis is a Huge Fan Favorite
The Milwaukee Bucks could use some help at the guard position. Plus, a 2024 first round pick would really be good for the Bucks. Memphis has two first round picks in the 2024 NBA draft. They also have point guard Tyus Jones, who is a strong ball handler and owed $14 million dollars for the 2023-2024.
Milwaukee ended the 2022-2023 NBA season with a 58-24 record. They won the Eastern Conference #1 seed by beating Boston by one game. Boston finished the season with a 57-25 record. Then the Bucks got smoked by the Heat in the playoffs, 4 games to 1.
Memphis (51-31) suffered a similar fate as they were eliminated in round one. The Grizzlies were the number #2 seed in the Western Conference.
Fan favorite Bobby Portis is owed $11.7 million dollars. He is also on a 4 yr contract that has a player option in 2025-2026. Bobby Portis can play but if Milwaukee resigns Brook Lopez, he is someone who the Bucks could look to deal. Bobby Portis is 28 years old. (So only two years older than Jones.)
For the Bucks to get younger, acquiring a 2024 first round pick and a player could be reasonable.
Related: Dillon Brooks to the Bucks
“Bobby, Bobby, Bobby”
Portis is a huge fan favorite. He had a really strong season in 2022-2023 and found himself in the running for NBA 6th man of the year. At the Fiserv Forum chants of “Bobby, Bobby, Bobby” are common.
He also had 38 double-doubles in the 2022-2023 season. Wow! 38 double-doubles is impressive. For Bobby Portis to be that dominate, it might be hard for the franchise to move on from him.
Portis has a career scoring average of 11.5 points per game. In the 2022-2023 season he averaged over 14.1 points a game.
However, because of the poor finish in the playoffs, everything seems on the table. Bobby Portis being dealt to add guard depth could be a real possibility.
If Milwaukee expects to win another NBA Championship they are going to need strong production from Jrue Holiday, Giannis, and get some clarity on the Khris Middleton situation. Plus they need to rethink their bench.
What the Bucks would get?
Tyus Jones is a good player and would slip in immediately as the new 6th man. The former Blue Devil can play. Jones would certainly start for a lot of teams. He made a name for himself with some good performances in college.
For Milwaukee he would be the first, if not one of the first players, off the bench. Jones is an excellent free throw shooter (82%). He is also only 26 years old.
Tyus Jones averaged 10 points a game, along with 5 assists per game, all while backing up Ja Morant. He only averaged 2 rebounds a game. But he has been a solid contributor and is a decent, career three point shooter. (35.7%). The Bucks could use the shooting. Depending on who the team’s new coach is, Jones could be a nice piece.
Also, maybe just as importantly, to get a first round pick in the deal would be a nice add for the team. But to give up Bobby Portis: that does feel like a lot.
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