Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2025 Free Agents - Bobby Portis
Prior to joining the Bucks, Portis was known as a one-dimensional, inefficient scorer. In '19-'20 with the Knicks, Portis had a 50.3% eFG%, which was in the 18th percentile for his position, per Cleaning the Glass. Portis reinvented himself in Milwaukee, finding a better role for himself and shooting over 40% from three. However, due to him not being the most athletic guy, he struggles to finish inside, as his field goal percentage at the rim has consistently been poor for a big. While playing Portis at the five can create a lot of spacing and shot-making on offense, it can really hurt your defense. Portis was never a strong defender as a power forward, and at center those deficiencies became even greater, as having no rim protection can be a death sentence for a team's defense. In that regard, Portis benefits greatly from getting to play next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, but other teams need to consider that when they think about his fit with a different roster. After not seeing a ton of minutes in some early playoff games in 2021, Portis was big for the Bucks in the later rounds of their championship run, using his size to bully smaller players inside and on the offensive glass. He hasn't had quite the same level of success that he did in 2021, and has seemed to have lost a step as he has aged. Portis will be 30 years old as a potential free agent in 2025, and if he continues to regress it's unlikely he would have offers big enough to make him want to opt out.
Summary
Portis has a $13.4 million player option for '25-'26, and if he declines that option he will be an unrestricted free agent with a $23.9 million cap hold and full Bird Rights, meaning the Bucks will have no restrictions on re-signing him. Since the Bucks will most likely be operating over the cap, and because his cap hold is greater than his expected starting salary, his cap hold is not really relevant. Due to the Bucks' luxury tax concerns, Portis could also end up opting out and taking less now but more money over a long-term contract, similar to what Jrue Holiday and the Celtics did in 2024. For other teams, if Portis demands a starting salary of more than the full $14.1 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, only teams with cap space will be able to sign him, unless a sign-and-trade is worked out, or an opt-in-and-trade. It's possible however that Portis could be had for the full MLE or slightly less, especially if it's on a long-term contract.
Cap Considerations
Maxi Kleber (3 years, $33 million, 2022) P.J. Tucker (2+1 years, $33 million, 2022) Kyle Anderson (3 years, $27 million, 2024)