Milwaukee Bucks GM Jon Horst pulled off a last-second deal before the 3 PM deadline with the Los Angeles Clippers, sending out fringe reserve Marjon Beauchamp in exchange for guard Kevin Porter Jr.
The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Kevin Porter Jr. to the Milwaukee Bucks for MarJon Beauchamp, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
For the Clippers, Porter was having a career-worst season averaging 9.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 3.2 APG on 42.3% from the field and an atrocious 24.5% on threes. Just two seasons ago for Houston, he put up the following numbers: 19.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.7 RPG on 44.2% and 36.6% shooting. Legal issues kept him out of the league in 2023-24.
Sheldon Wohlman of Utility Sports, however, is not impressed with the move for the Bucks, giving them a D grade while the Clippers get an A for moving off an obviously poor fit. With Porter’s promising track record, is it really an undesirable transaction?
Thank GOD!
No more KPJ in LAC
Clippers – A
Bucks – D https://t.co/GuQ5EEdLoW
— Utility Sports (@_utilitysports) February 6, 2025
Poor Grade Notwithstanding, Swiping Kevin Porter Jr from the Los Angeles Clippers a No-Brainer for Milwaukee Bucks
In 2023-24, Beauchamp provided limited but meaningful contributions off the bench. Making 48 appearances at 12.7 MPG, he accounted for 4.4 PPG on 40.0% shooting from deep. This season, he had played just 26 games averaging 4.7 minutes and 2.0 PTS. His FG% dropped from 48.8 to 38.3; he knocked down only 33.3% of shots beyond the arc.
All of this to say that the Bucks essentially gave up nothing for a player who can provide a lightning burst off the bench. This assumes, of course, that they did not sacrifice some ungodly draft capital to get him.
So far no additional details have come through.
With the 3 PM deadline now over 40 minutes past, it appears that Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton remain in Milwaukee. Patrick Baldwin Jr., acquired from the Wizards in the Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma trade, has been re-routed to San Antonio along with cash in a move that seems designed simply to dump part of his $2.4M salary and clear a roster spot.
Bucks fans had some fun with that one.
Thank you Patrick Baldwin Jr.
True Milwaukee legend pic.twitter.com/iUYNqoEXy5
— Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks. (@godkidcreamcity) February 6, 2025
Patrick Baldwin Jr. pic.twitter.com/9vOy4UFEMw
— Bucks Film Room (@BucksFilmRoom) February 6, 2025
Buy-Low Spot for a Player with Explosive Potential
In the first season of a 2-year, $4.8M deal, Porter is not an exorbitant addition by any stretch, but he does fortify the team’s bench depth. Assuming Doc Rivers employs a starting lineup of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Kyle Kuzma, Andre Jackson, and Brook Lopez, the 24-year-old joins a reserve unit consisting of Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, AJ Green, Jericho Sims, and Bobby Portis.
Not historic, but not bad either.
If Kuzma slides into the starting lineup–it would seem strange if he didn’t–Porter could help fill the second unit scoring void created by Middleton’s departure. Of course, he could steal Jackson’s spot as the starting 2-guard, but given that the Bucks already have Trent Jr. and haven’t put him there, a maneuver like that would be surprising.
Although they lost out on Zach Lavine and Jimmy Butler, assuming they ever wanted Toxic Jimmy in the first place, all in all Horst succeeded in buttressing the team while, with the exception of Middleton, retaining their talent. That gets a solid B from me.
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