As the Milwaukee Bucks look to build around Giannis Antetokounmpo, they will look to retain a key member of the team.
Over the past few seasons, the Bucks have changed drastically. With Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton gone, Damian Lillard has taken over as Antetokounmpo’s co-star, but now his injury will leave Milwaukee trying to field a competitive team solely around the two-time MVP going into next season.
While Lillard’s return next season is still a possibility, the Bucks need to give Antetokounmpo as much help as possible. Not only do the Bucks need to keep him happy, but they need to set themselves up to contend for a championship in the near future.
While Brook Lopez appears to be a potential departure, Milwaukee needs to ensure that Bobby Portis doesn’t take the same exit. This offseason, Portis could enter unrestricted free agency if he declines his $13.4 million player option, leaving Milwaukee to bid for him on the open market against other suitors.
Of course, the Bucks have some advantage, given that Portis has become a fan favorite in Milwaukee and has carved out a nice home with the Bucks over the past half decade. In a recent ESPN article, Bobby Marks proposed a potential contract for Portis this summer.
Marks projected that Portis could get a three-year deal worth $54 million. If Lopez leaves, the Bucks would have more flexibility to offer Portis that type of money, as Marks noted.
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Still, with Marks also noting that Atlanta and Detroit are potential fits, the Bucks could be in a bidding war this summer. Despite all of the changes over the past few seasons, Portis has been a constant alongside Antetokounmpo, and to get back into contention, the Bucks could benefit greatly from retaining their fan favorite forward.
