It’s safe to say that nobody is happier with his decision last offseason than Bucks forward Bobby Portis. After helping to bring Milwaukee its first NBA title in 50 years, Portis confirmed that the Knicks made him a better offer than the two-year, $7.5MM deal he signed with the Bucks, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.
“I knew it was the right place when I made the decision,’’ Portis said. “Fun fact, like fun little quick story. During free agency — actually, before free agency — the Knicks turned down my ($15M) team option and they wanted to sign me to another deal and it was pretty nice money. But I wasn’t really worried about the money. Sometimes money isn’t everything. It’s about happiness. I found happiness here.”
Portis will have another decision in a few days because he has a $3.8MM player option on the second year of his contract. Berman speculated that New York may have interest in a reunion with Portis, especially if Obi Toppin gets moved in a potential Collin Sexton trade, but Portis sounds reluctant to leave Milwaukee.
“When I first got here, I felt welcome and I felt loved,’’ he said. “The guys made me at home and the coaches made me comfortable. I get to be myself every day, just be energetic. Guys on my team, they are kind of quiet guys. There’s not many guys like me that are outgoing and really bring what I bring to the table with energy.’’
There’s more from Milwaukee:
- The Bucks will keep their core together with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, but the $106MM those three players are owed next season will limit the team’s financial flexibility, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN (Instagram link). Milwaukee has Bird rights on P.J. Tucker and would like to bring him back, but that may push the club over the luxury tax.
- In Tuesday’s post-game celebration, coach Mike Budenholzer gave credit to general manager Jon Horst for the bold moves he made to assemble a championship team, per Spencer Davies of Basketball News. “What Jon Horst has done to put together a team, he’s the greatest GM in the league,” Budenholzer said. “I’m a little bit biased, but to be his partner, for him to go out and get Jrue Holiday, to have the guts to make that (trade), to recruit guys, to get P.J. Tucker midseason, Bobby Portis in the offseason. Stick with Khris, Giannis and Brook (Lopez) and Pat (Connaughton) and these guys, and you go up and down the roster. Jon has done an amazing job.”
- The Bucks are early favorites to win another title next season, according to ESPN, which has the Nets, Suns, Lakers and Sixers rounding out the top five.
Bobby Bobby Bobby
Without Bobby，Bucks can’t beat Nets
Portis helped some, but Tucker’s defense during the playoffs was huge for them.
Portis didn’t even play the final 3 games of the nets series
Bobby didnt play in that Brooklyn series what is u talking about
Do they only use ‘crazy eye’ photos of Bobby Portis or are all photos ‘crazy eye’?
They’re always like that. No way to tell if he’s awake or sleeping from 1 photo to the next
“The Bucks will keep their core together with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, but the $106MM those three players are owed next season will limit the team’s financial flexibility, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN (Instagram link). Milwaukee has Bird rights on P.J. Tucker and would like to bring him back, but that may push them over the luxury tax.”
I know it’s Milwaukee, but if you aren’t willing to go over the luxury tax with the same core after winning a championship you should be forced to sell. No excuses at this point.
They’re going to hire Gute part time to help find a handful of undrafted free agents to fill out the roster.
It’d be easier if he could just trade up and draft GA’s replacement..but the Bucks don’t have the draft capital to pull that off…
Milwaukee need to sign players and trade them while their value is high Portis and Pj and get rid of Lopez
Portis should opt out and sign another multiyear contract with Bucks with a player option.
Maybe this year the Bucks go after Saric (and wind up with Kaminsky). Portis sounds like he wants to stay but the Bucks are strapped.
Vanderbilt (MIN) FA reminds me of Portis… no 3pt shot though.
We all get free tacos at Taco Bell on Thursday thanks to the Suns blowing the halftime lead in game 6.
Yeah, 5 points. We should check the records, perhaps it’s the first time a team “blows” such a huge halftime lead.
Otogar, you should Google what he is talking about… He’s not making a joke lol
OK, my bad lol. Free tacos for everyone, then.
It used to be a road team winning one of the games in the NBA Finals was the qualifying aspect of the promotion, but they changed it this year to a team coming back to win a game in the second half. It goes on all day long today.
Bucks can offer Bobby a raise using the mid-level exception otherwise I think their focus will be on resigning Tucker and finding a back up PG and big to replace Portis. I’m sure Thanasis will also be resigned for another league min deal. He always brought energy in the few minutes he played (along with multiple fouls lol). But I think his presence on the team keeps Giannis happy and focused.
Holiday, DIVicenzo, Middleton, Giannis, Lopez, Tucker, Connaughton is a good core to start with.
Stop lying Milwaukee’s need to deal Lopez Asap let Portis opt out and sign and trade him at his highest value same with PJ and get Giannis some real help at the center position but Lopez just too dam slow and lazy