Kevin Porter Jr. sitting in Milwaukee’s backup point guard spot has left Kasparas Jakucionis stuck behind a crowded backcourt, but that picture could change fast if the Bucks decide to move Porter.
The potential trade chatter matters because Milwaukee would then need another ball-handler behind the starters. Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro are set to handle things in the starting five, and Porter has been the player who can run the second unit. If he’s out of the mix, the Bucks’ options thin out quickly.
AJ Green, Caris LeVert and Gary Trent Jr. are not really table-setters, while Brayden Burries looks ready for a chance but profiles more as a combo guard than a pure lead guard. That leaves Jakucionis as the clearest candidate to step into Porter's role.
At 20, Jakucionis has already flashed enough playmaking ability across his college, professional and overseas stops to make the idea believable. A Porter deal would likely hand him a much bigger runway, one that could push him past the 17.8 minutes per game he averaged as a Miami Heat rookie last year.
Milwaukee still needs to trim its roster after waiving Pete Nance, who could return soon, and Porter is one of the names under consideration. That tracks, given that he can help a team, he’s on an affordable contract and the Bucks have a backcourt logjam that could be eased by a trade.
Porter isn’t the only Buck being discussed either. Jake Fischer reported that Caris LeVert and Jericho Sims are also available in talks. Still, Porter is the one who could most directly open the door for Jakucionis, and if the Bucks believe in the young guard, that decision gets a lot easier.
In Other News...
Bucks Could Lose Kevin Porter Jr. As Sacramento Scrambles
Sacramentos search for backcourt help has suddenly become a story worth watching in Milwaukee, too, after Kings point guard Ben Simmons suffered a torn Achilles and is set to miss the entire season. With a major hole at the position, the Kings are reportedly weighing outside options, and Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. has surfaced as one of the names in the mix alongside Memphis guard Walter Clayton.
For the Bucks, the uncertainty is part of the appeal and the concern. Porter Jr. gives Sacramento a more established option to consider, but the Kings decision could come down to roster fit and timing as they sort through a quick response to the injury. No move has been announced yet, leaving Milwaukee to monitor whether one of its guards becomes part of Sacramentos urgent scramble. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburtons Fiery Bucks Exchange Looks Even More Personal Now
A preseason foul between Tyrese Haliburton and Ryan Rollins suddenly has a little more edge to it after the Oct. 15 meeting between the Pacers and Bucks, when the two guards were caught in a heated verbal exchange. The moment followed a hard foul, and Haliburton was hit with a technical after he allegedly directed profane language toward Rollins, giving the exchange a bite that stood out even in a game that was still early in the exhibition calendar.
The scene only drew more attention when a lip reader later broke down the interaction on social media, adding another layer to what had already looked like a tense run-in. Haliburton finished with 17 points and six assists, while Rollins posted eight points and five assists, and Milwaukee escaped with a 128-127 overtime win, though neither guard took part in the extra period. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Finally Made A Guard Rotation Decision Fans Saw Coming
The Bucks moved to trim a crowded backcourt ahead of the roster cutdown deadline, waiving guard Kevin Porter Jr. after two seasons with the team. The decision, first reported by ESPNs Shams Charania, came as Milwaukee reshaped its roster and continued sorting out minutes and roles in the wake of major changes, including the trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo and a wave of new additions.
For a team trying to settle on its guard rotation, Porters exit was the kind of move that had been looming for a while. Milwaukee had simply reached the point where there were more backcourt pieces than spots to give them, and the front office chose to clear the logjam rather than carry it into the season. [Read more 🡒]