The Milwaukee Bucks had 16 players on guaranteed contracts and one day to trim the roster to 15. Most expected Caris LeVert or Jericho Sims to be cut, with the latter even drawing interest from the Lakers. Instead, the Wisconsin franchise released Kevin Porter Jr., according to Shams Charania on ESPN, leaving one of their most productive players from last season without a team less than 24 hours before the regular season begins.
The decision is more about accounting than performance. Porter Jr. was in the final year of his contract, worth $5.39 million, and the Bucks have a crowded backcourt: Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent Jr., A.J. Green, LeVert, and young prospects Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakučionis. If no team claims him during the waiver period, Milwaukee will still have to absorb that salary against their cap.
Starter-caliber numbers, uncertain future
What stands out is that Porter Jr. leaves the Bucks after his best season in Milwaukee. In the 2025-26 season, he played 38 games and averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in just over 33 minutes, plus 2.2 steals per night. In total, he appeared in 68 official games with the Bucks since arriving in a trade from the Clippers in February 2025.
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His talent for scoring and playmaking has never been in question. What has haunted him is everything else: an inconsistent three-point shot, questioned defense, and an off-court history that has closed doors. His stint with the Cavaliers ended following a locker room altercation, and his departure from the Rockets came after being arrested in 2023 for a domestic incident. That led him to play in Greece with PAOK before returning to the NBA with the Clippers.
Now, at 26 years old, he'll have to wait for a last-minute call with rosters practically finalized, which significantly reduces his chances of finding a spot before the season starts.