The Milwaukee Bucks may be staring at a roster squeeze, and Kevin Porter Jr. looks like one of the pieces most likely to move. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Bucks have to trim two standard contracts before the season, and Porter is among the players being considered in trade talks.
If Milwaukee does deal him, the ripple effect could be immediate for Brayden Burries. Porter’s exit would clear a spot, but it would also open a lane for Burries to matter in a much bigger way. The Bucks would be looking for someone to steady the second unit, and based on what Burries has already shown since arriving in Milwaukee, he’s positioned to step into that role.
That’s what makes Porter such a useful trade chip. He can help a team, but he also checks a lot of boxes for Milwaukee: he has value around the league, he carries a workable salary, and he’s part of a crowded backcourt. Moving him could give the Bucks not only roster relief, but also a chance to bring back some draft compensation while creating more minutes for younger players whose roles are still unsettled.
Porter hasn’t done much to stand out in preseason, at least so far. He has played a limited role in two games, averaging 6.5 points while shooting 16.7 percent from the field.
Even so, teams know what he can bring. When healthy in a short breakout stretch with Milwaukee last season, he showed he can score and also made real progress as a playmaker.
That kind of profile should still appeal to a contender looking for bench help. Porter can give a second unit a jolt and help organize the reserves, which makes him a logical trade target for a team that needs guard depth without paying a huge price.
What Milwaukee would get back is still the open question. A straight-up deal is one possibility.
Another is whether the Bucks try to bundle Porter with Jericho Sims or Caris LeVert, both of whom Fischer said are also trade candidates. Since Milwaukee still has to create at least one more opening, a package move would make plenty of sense.
Whatever the return ends up being, the bigger story might be what happens next for Burries. If Porter is moved, the Bucks would be signaling real confidence in Burries to take on a larger workload. And that could let him get rolling right away.
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