Trade chatter is heating up in Milwaukee, and there’s a new name in the mix: Michael Porter Jr.
On the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons dropped an intriguing nugget-Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has been a longtime admirer of Porter, dating back to the forward’s days with the Denver Nuggets. That’s not just idle talk. Rivers, according to Simmons, has consistently praised Porter’s rebounding ability and viewed him as an underrated piece on Denver’s championship squad.
“I was thinking Milwaukee with him because I know Doc likes him,” Simmons said. “When Doc was coming on my podcast, he always thought Porter was underrated for Denver. He liked that he rebounded.”
It’s not hard to see why Porter would be on the Bucks’ radar-especially now. Since landing in Brooklyn this offseason, the 27-year-old has been playing the best basketball of his career.
Through 24 games, he’s averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting a sharp 49.1% from the field and 40.1% from deep. Those are the kind of numbers that make front offices sit up and take notice, especially when they come from a player who’s already proven he can contribute to a title-winning team.
And that’s exactly the point Simmons emphasized. Porter’s not just putting up stats-he’s done it on the big stage.
“He won the title is the key thing for me,” Simmons noted. “If you hadn’t won the title it would be like, I don’t know, it’s fun to be on a winning team, but he won the title.
Now he’s proving… he could.”
That combination-championship pedigree, scoring versatility, and rebounding-makes Porter an intriguing trade asset, especially for a contender like Milwaukee that’s looking to maximize the Giannis Antetokounmpo window. With the Bucks sitting at 12-18 and navigating a five-game road trip, the pressure is mounting to make a move that can stabilize the season and elevate the roster.
Giannis is currently sidelined with a soleus strain, and Milwaukee just snapped a three-game skid with a 111-94 win over Indiana. That win offered a brief reprieve, but the bigger picture remains: the Bucks need help, and the trade deadline is creeping closer.
Porter, meanwhile, remains a central figure in Brooklyn’s rotation. The Nets are 9-19 but have shown signs of life lately, winning six of their last nine, including a solid 114-106 victory over the Sixers. As they wrap up a two-game road swing against the Timberwolves on Saturday, Porter’s production continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise uneven season.
There’s also buzz that Milwaukee could look to Portland again-where they already have trade history after the Damian Lillard deal. Some believe the Bucks could explore a package that includes both Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III to shore up both ends of the court. That kind of move would signal a full-court press to retool around Giannis and Lillard in real time.
But Porter’s name stands out. He’s not just a shooter or a scorer-he’s a 6'10" wing with length, touch, and a playoff résumé.
And if Rivers has been eyeing him for a while, that’s worth paying attention to. Coaches don’t often get to handpick their guys midseason, but when they do, it’s usually because they believe that player can make a real difference.
Whether Milwaukee makes a serious push for Porter remains to be seen, but the fit is there-and the interest is real.