Bobby Portis Is Playing His Best Basketball - And That’s Both a Blessing and a Dilemma for the Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are walking a tightrope right now - balancing short-term survival with long-term ambition - and Bobby Portis is smack in the middle of it.
Earlier this season, Portis looked out of sync. His jumper wasn’t falling, his energy didn’t quite pop off the screen the way it usually does, and his minutes reflected that. But fast-forward to December, and he’s become a vital piece for Milwaukee - not just a spark plug off the bench, but a go-to scorer in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With Giannis sidelined, the Bucks have leaned on Portis more than ever, and he’s answered the call. In Thursday’s win over the Raptors, he dropped a team-high 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds - his second double-double in a week.
That kind of production isn’t just helpful; it’s been necessary. Portis has now scored 20 or more in three of Milwaukee’s last five games, and his rebounding has ticked up to seven per game in December after lagging behind in the season’s first two months.
But here’s where things get complicated: the better Portis plays, the more valuable he becomes - both to the Bucks and to potential trade partners.
Milwaukee’s front office is facing a classic win-now vs. build-for-later scenario. If they want to swing big before the trade deadline, Portis is one of their best assets.
Combine his contract with Kyle Kuzma’s, and suddenly the Bucks have the salary ballast to chase a high-level star. And with both players producing - Kuzma has been solid throughout the season, while Portis is peaking at the right time - the Bucks might not have to toss in as many sweeteners to get a deal done.
That’s important, because Milwaukee’s cupboard isn’t exactly overflowing with draft picks or young, movable talent. If Portis and Kuzma can be the centerpiece of a trade package, the Bucks might be able to hold onto their 2031 and 2032 first-rounders - or at least attach protections to them - while still bringing in a difference-maker.
But that brings us back to the present. The Bucks aren’t exactly lighting the league on fire right now, and Giannis’ injury has only magnified their flaws.
Myles Turner, who shares frontcourt duties with Portis, has struggled to assert himself offensively. Outside of a 21-point showing against Toronto, Turner has been quiet this month - scoring in single digits in four of six games and rarely cracking double-digit shot attempts.
Kyle Kuzma’s production has been up and down, and Jericho Sims is limited offensively to rim runs and putbacks. That leaves Portis as the only real frontcourt scoring threat with Giannis out - and he’s been delivering.
Since a tough overtime loss to the Sixers on November 20, Portis is averaging 15.3 points per game and shooting a scorching 47.7% from beyond the arc. That 3-for-6 performance from deep against Toronto?
Just another reminder that he’s locked in right now.
So what do the Bucks do? Ride the hot hand and hope Portis can keep them afloat until Giannis returns? Or cash in while his value is high and try to bring in a star who can lift the ceiling of this team?
It’s a tough call. On one hand, Portis has been a stabilizing force - a big reason the Bucks are staying competitive. On the other, he might be the key to unlocking a blockbuster move that could reshape the roster around Giannis (or potentially without him, if things really go south).
Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: if the Bucks can’t right the ship soon, the conversation could shift from “Who can we add to help Giannis?” to “What can we get for him?”
For now, Bobby Portis is playing some of the best basketball of his career. And whether that makes him indispensable or trade bait - well, that’s the million-dollar question in Milwaukee.