Trade chatter around the Milwaukee Bucks heated up this week after Bill Simmons highlighted head coach Doc Rivers’ long-running interest in Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. The conversation took place on the latest episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast” as Milwaukee seeks ways to reinvigorate the roster around former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I was thinking Milwaukee with him because I know Doc likes him. When Doc was coming on my podcast, he always thought Porter was underrated for Denver. He liked that he rebounded,” Simmons remarked during his show.
The NBA insider noted that Rivers has long been a fan of Porter, going back to his time with the Denver Nuggets. Porter was an important contributor on a championship team there, even if he often played out of the spotlight.
“There’s a sense of like, it never happened for that guy and now he’s kind of shown like, well it never happened for me but I was on a team where I never had the ball. Like you could make a case for it. He won the title is the key thing for me. If you hadn’t won the title it would be like, I don’t know, it’s fun to be on a winning team, but he won the title,” Simmons added.
Bucks targeting Michael Porter Jr.
Dec 14, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) tries to drive past Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Simmons explained why Porter’s profile could attract teams seeking high-upside talent without giving up proven championship experience.
“Now he’s proving, A, that he could. Again, small sample size but he’s at least shown it. B, I think he’s a really intriguing trade asset. Like I wonder if the Warriors have had a meeting about him.”
Porter, 27, is enjoying the most productive season of his career since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets this offseason. In 24 games, he is putting up 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc in 32.8 minutes. While Brooklyn got off to a 9–19 start, the team has shown signs of progress, winning six of its last nine games.
Jan 6, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Milwaukee Bucks players form a team huddle before the start of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Bucks improved to 12–18 by snapping a three-game losing streak with a 111–94 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. The Bucks are in the midst of a five-game road trip with Antetokounmpo sidelined by a soleus strain and will face the 14–16 Memphis Grizzlies Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET.