Undoubtedly, the Milwaukee Bucks will be one of the most discussed teams in the NBA this offseason. As usual, national media and rival fanbases will relentlessly speculate about why two-time NBA MVP should request a trade to a bigger market.
Although the nine-time All-Star has not directly expressed a desire to leave Milwaukee, he also hasn’t confirmed his long-term commitment to the Bucks. He did sign a lucrative contract extension that keeps him with the team for the next three seasons and mentioned earlier this past season that he is not the type of player to request a trade.
A third consecutive first-round playoff exit has only intensified rumors that Giannis may reconsider his future with the team. While much of the NBA spotlight is on what the Greek Freak will choose, another key player for the Bucks must now decide whether he wants to return as well.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Bobby Portis Puts the Front Office on Notice as He Weighs His Player Option
Bobby Portis has played the past five seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He has been a two-time finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year award, finishing third both times, and ranked ninth in voting for the honor during the 2020-2021 season.
With Brook Lopez set to become a free agent once the season concludes, there is widespread expectation that the Bucks will part ways with him, promoting Portis to the starting center (or power forward) position alongside Giannis in the frontcourt. However, for this to occur, Portis would need to exercise his player option for the upcoming season.
and he is uncertain whether he will choose to do that.
“It’s a big decision I have to make. I love Milwaukee and enjoy playing for the Bucks. I’ve been here for five years, and we’ve won a championship during that time. We made it to the second round in my second year, but the last couple of seasons have been first-round exits.”
“To be completely honest, from a business standpoint, how can a general manager look at a team that’s lost in the first round three years in a row? It all depends on how things unfold.”
“I’d love to stay in Milwaukee. I really enjoy it here, they even call me ‘The Mayor.’ I don’t know how you leave a city where you’re the mayor. But it all depends on how they handle the roster and who they decide to bring back.”
“It’s really up to the organization to decide which players they want to bring back, whatever that may be.”
Portis mentioned that his decision is still far off and that he doesn’t want to make any commitments yet. He plans to wait until the season concludes and he sees what the front office does in the offseason to build a team capable of competing for a championship.