The Bucks have a Myles Turner problem, and Kristaps Porzingis might be the cleanest way out.
Turner is sitting on a deal that still owes him $73 million over the next three seasons, and that number has become hard to ignore for a Milwaukee team that appears more committed to developing its young players than hanging onto expensive veterans. If the goal is to clear the books earlier and create room for a different timeline, Turner is the obvious contract to move.
That’s where Porzingis enters the picture. A straight swap would make sense on paper because Porzingis has only two years and $40 million left on his deal, which gives the Bucks a shorter commitment and a lower annual hit. Milwaukee has reportedly been unwilling to go down that road for now, but from a contract standpoint, it’s easy to see why the idea keeps coming up.
There’s also the basketball side of it. Turner has kept his starting role to open the season, but this rotation isn’t locked in stone. Moving him would open minutes at center and give Kel'el Ware a bigger runway, something the Bucks have every reason to prioritize if they’re serious about building around their younger pieces.
That extra year off the books matters too. If Milwaukee keeps developing the way it hopes, the payoff could come a couple summers from now, when the team might be ready to reshape itself around a younger core.
Turner’s contract would work against that. Porzingis’ deal, by comparison, would leave the Bucks with max contract slots for the 2028 free agent class, which includes old friend Giannis Antetokounmpo.
That’s enough to get Bucks fans dreaming, even if the chances of that reunion are slim. And even if Giannis never comes back, the value of moving Turner would still be real. Milwaukee could have other free-agent targets in mind, or use that flexibility to bring in contracts paired with draft capital.
The bigger point is that Turner’s Bucks tenure has been a rough business decision from the start. He never matched the value of the contract, and the context around the signing makes it look even worse. Milwaukee also did a stretch-and-waive on Damian Lillard’s contract to make room for Turner.
With Lillard’s dead money still on the books until 2030, Turner has already become an expensive mistake. He wasn’t enough to help the Bucks contend around Giannis last season, and now his age makes him a poor fit for a rebuild. The signs point toward a move coming sooner rather than later, and Porzingis may be the one avenue that lets Milwaukee get there without having to attach more assets just to move on.
In Other News...
Bucks Opening Night Collapse Just Raised A Tough Question
The Bucks season began with a frustrating reminder that one sloppy stretch can undo a nights work. Milwaukee fell to the Wizards, 128-116, after hanging around for most of the opener before the game tilted badly in the fourth quarter. Tyler Herro led the way with 24 points and nine assists, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 22 points and seven rebounds, but the Bucks never found a late answer once Washington started scoring with ease.
What makes the loss sting is how quickly the game got away from Milwaukee when it mattered most. The Wizards outscored the Bucks 38-23 in the final period and did it with efficient shot-making down the stretch, turning an ordinary opener into an early test of resolve. For a team trying to set a tone right away, the bigger concern is not just the result but how little resistance it could muster when the pace and pressure picked up. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Already Look Smarter For Moving On From Kevin Porter Jr
The Bucks wasted little time making their roster move look worthwhile, waiving Kevin Porter Jr. to open the door for younger players who fit into the long view. In the season opener, Kasparas Jakucionis made the most of the opportunity, coming off the bench for 26 minutes and supplying a lively burst the second unit badly needed. He finished with 15 points, three assists, three rebounds and a block, giving Milwaukee a glimpse of why the front office was willing to clear space.
Jakucionis was not perfect, and some of the overaggressiveness showed up in stretches, but the overall takeaway was hard to miss. He brought energy, playmaking and enough scoring punch to suggest the Bucks can count on him for real rotation minutes moving forward. For a team looking to get younger and more functional around the edges, that kind of early return makes the decision to move on from Porter look even sharper. [Read more 🡒]
Giannis Left Milwaukee But One Big Problem Already Followed Him
Giannis Antetokounmpo wasted no time making his presence felt in Miami, turning in a debut that immediately reminded everyone why he changes the ceiling of any team. He poured in 35 points in his first game for the Heat, the most ever by a Heat player in an opening night with the franchise, but the night still ended in disappointment when Miami fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in its season opener.
For Milwaukee fans watching from afar, the bigger takeaway is what came with all that scoring: one star can only cover so much. The Heats roster still looks like it has work to do if it wants to hang with the top tier of the Eastern Conference, and even a debut that loud did not solve the larger question of whether this group is built to chase a championship right away. [Read more 🡒]