“Milwaukee Bucks almost traded for former NBA Finals participant”

Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks only made two trades, but none of them moved the needle all that much. They signed Patrick Beverley from the Philadelphia 76ers and sent Robin Lopez to the Sacramento Kings. However, according to recent reports, the Bucks almost made another trade that would have significantly altered their rotation.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Bucks almost traded Bobby Portis to the Dallas Mavericks for Grant Williams. Marks also reported that “a deal was in progress,” but Milwaukee ultimately decided against the trade. Instead, the Mavericks traded Williams to the Charlotte Hornets for PJ Washington.

Sources confirmed to ESPN that Milwaukee finalized a deal last season to send Portis to Dallas for Grant Williams. The Bucks ultimately failed and Williams was sent to the Charlotte Hornets for PJ Washington.

Milwaukee Bucks almost traded Bobby Portis for Grant Williams

Bobby Portis is once again a trade candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks

Marks named Portis a player to keep an eye on ahead of the February trade deadline. He mentioned the Bucks’ lack of tradeable assets as a big reason the team might opt ​​to move on from the Arkansas native. Portis may also be in the middle of a contract year. The 29-year-old has a player option of $13.4 million for the 2025-26 NBA season.

With Milwaukee having limited tradeable contracts and draft assets (it can only trade its 2031 first-round pick), expect Portis’ name to pop up again. Portis is averaging 13.8 points this season but has been an inconsistent shooter. In early December, he scored a total of 45 points on 7 of 8 from 3 in wins against Brooklyn and Orlando. In the two games before that, Portis shot 0-6 from distance

Four players (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez) account for nearly 80% of the Bucks’ salaries. As a result, Milwaukee is at the bottom with 11 players, starting with Portis, making salaries of $12.6 million or less.

The Bucks need to be creative and upgrade the roster using Portis’ salary. They are not allowed to take back more salary because they are $6.5 million above the first frontcourt, and they cannot stack Portis’ salary with another player if they are given the team salary above the second frontcourt after the transaction remains.

Portis has finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting each of the last two seasons. This season he is having another solid season. In 24 games (and just one start), he averaged 13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Portis also shoots 47.8% from the field and 36.7% from distance.

The last word

After a slow start to the season, the Bucks have turned things around. Milwaukee currently has a record of 14-11 and is the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Additionally, they have reached the NBA Cup finals and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Even though they’re on a hot streak right now, the Bucks are far from a perfect team. Even in a lackluster Eastern Conference, the Bucks will have a hard time becoming title favorites again as long as the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers maintain their pace. The trade deadline is still a few months away, but the Bucks are a team to keep an eye on until then.