Bucks agree to three-year deal with reliable big man

The contract will replace Portis’ $13.4M player option for 2025/26, which he declined Sunday 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, $48.6M 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 as 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.