July 7: The Bucks have put out a press release officially confirming that Portis is back under contract.
June 29: The Bucks and forward/center Bobby Portis have worked out a multiyear contract agreement, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who reports that Portis intends to sign a three-year, $44MM pact that includes a third-year player option.
The contract will replace Portis’ $13.4MM player option for 2025/26, which he declined today in order to sign his new deal.
A reliable part of the Bucks’ frontcourt for the last five seasons, Portis earned Sixth Man of the Year votes in three of those years — he started too many games to qualify in one of the other two seasons, then only suited up a total of 49 times last season due to a 25-game suspension that cost him much of the second half.
In the suspension-shortened season, Portis averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 25.4 minutes per game, with a .466/.365/.836 shooting line.
Portis recently spoke about a desire to be “compensated fairly” after accepting what he views as team-friendly contracts in recent years. While his new contract won’t give him a huge raise, it will pay him a higher annual salary than the four-year, $48.6MM deal he signed with Milwaukee in 2022.
Portis was one of two key members of the Bucks’ frontcourt eligible for free agency and had been considered more likely than fellow big man Brook Lopez to return to the team.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation has run rampant since Milwaukee’s season ended, the two-time MVP hasn’t requested a change of scenery, so the Bucks are reportedly approaching their offseason as if he’s staying and are looking to make moves to complement him.
The terms of Portis’ contract suggest it could be finalized an extension in June rather than as a free agent deal in July. If that happens, he would remain trade-eligible rather than becoming ineligible to be dealt until December.
well, that was easy. i figured him to be seeking a bigger payday the way he was talking about it.
The Bucks are trying to hold onto something that’s not there.
Their ship has sailed and gone.
Kinda like your girlfriend.
Giants lol
They did not just lose 2 of 3 to the White (flag) Sox, did they? Ah maaaaaan, you guys.
Yeah, it was real tough from 2010-2020… oh wait…
Nice deal for Mil
Good trade value at the deadline if Mil is sunk
I had him at a 3/45 but I thought it. Be in a different zip code
Overrated. Glad the Warriors dodged this bullet.
No Team with a glimpse of hope for contention interested with the non taxpayer midlevel?
Signing with the Bucks means to accept there is no Chance to compete, even after lillard Comes back.
What are the terms you’re referring to that make it an extension rather than a free agent deal?
Extensions can’t make the total contract (including current season) longer than four years; can’t include a first-year raise exceeding 40% (or 20%, to keep them trade-eligible); and can’t have annual raises exceeding 5% after that.
Portis’ deal definitely fits the first two criteria — not sure about the third.
But he’s only making like 7-8% more for his first year starting salary on his new deal, so he doesn’t have a first year raise of that much. So that means it could be an extension.
It was reported that his salary in year one is the same as his option would have been, so $13.4m. With 8% annual raises that makes 3 years $43.6m. So that would mean it’s not an extension. Shams probably rounded up.
If there are 8% annual raises, then yeah, it’ll be a free agent contract.
“Could be an extension” was meant to suggest “there’s a chance, depending on the exact terms,” not “they’ll have the choice of doing it either way.” Not the best wording, my bad.
Oh ok, yes your comment to me was a little confusing. So if we assume 8% annual raise (and those numbers do add up), it’s a free agent deal and he’s not eligible to be traded until 12/15, right?
I’m actually mixing up two separate rules here. Sorry, a lot going on at once.
Technically, based on the reported terms, the deal COULD still be done today as an extension (though we’re running out of time). But if any of the annual raises exceed 5%, and it sounds like they will, he would be ineligible to be traded for six months (if it’s an extension) or until December 15 (if it’s a free agent deal).