MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 05: Kevin Porter Jr. #3of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Max ... \[+\] Christie #00 of the Dallas Mavericks during a game at Fiserv Forum on March 05, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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The Milwaukee Bucks made a trifecta of moves at this year's trade deadline that generated plenty of attention. One of the afterthoughts, however, was their acquisition of Kevin Porter Jr.
The Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma swap garnered most of the headlines, as Milwaukee flipped a beloved franchise icon for a volatile forward with unfavorable results at his most recent stop.
And, although Kuzma has been solid for the Bucks so far, there's no denying the positive impact Porter Jr. has made coming off the bench.
Porter Jr. has been a lightning bug for Milwaukee so far. He comes off the bench with a jittery pattern of movements that makes it easy for his teammates to play alongside him but difficult for his opponents to predict.
Let's start on the ball.
As Locked on Bucks' podcaster Camille Davis put it, he can "touch paint" with the rock in his hands. His constant change of speed and direction makes it nearly impossible for his man to stay in front of him. He can dribble the ball into the paint, collapse defenses, and is a more willing passer than expected since coming over from the Los Angeles Clippers.
In ten games with the Bucks, he's taken a third of his shots within four feet of the basket. This penetration ability throws defenses into chaos, even if he doesn't finish at a high rate (he's converted only 55 percent of such shots, ranking the 21st percentile among combo guards according to Cleaning the Glass).
Just because he gets into the paint, however, doesn't mean he's throwing up a shot. He's done a tremendous job getting his teammates involved after creating an advantage—he's averaging a whopping 35.7 percent assist rate in Milwaukee. His ability to draw in defenders and make the right pass keeps Milwaukee's offense humming when the stars are resting.
When he does give up the ball, he doesn't stop moving either.
He's constantly searching for an advantage, with or without the rock in his hands. Following a pass is the best time to cut to an open spot, and Porter Jr. embodies this philosophy. He's always moving to open spaces to keep Milwaukee's second unit from stalling.
His off-ball awareness also makes him a sneaky asset in transition. While he's not the primary ball-handler in fast-break situations, he's adept at filling the lanes and making himself an option. Whether he's running the wing for a spot-up or darting toward the rim for a dump-off pass, he's always engaged in ways that add value.
Still, he has his limits.
He's only making 24.4 percent of his threes this season, joining the likes of Kyle Kuzma, Andre Jackson Jr., and Jericho Sims as non-shooters in their rotation around Giannis Antetokounmpo. His unreliable perimeter shot means defenders sag off him, clogging driving lanes and forcing him to rely more on his quickness to generate opportunities.
This makes it difficult for him to play with the starting unit. That's a major reason why he spends most of his time on the court surrounded by three other bench players and Kyle Kuzma. This unit is usually asked to bridge the gap while Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard buy some rest.
This is the perfect role for Porter Jr.
He's best used as a 15-20 minute sparkplug off the Bucks' bench. Any more and that would be stretching his skillset too far. He thrives in short bursts where his energy can have the most impact, rather than being asked to sustain high-level production over extended minutes.
However, his energy has been a welcomed addition to Milwaukee's roster. He brings an element of unpredictability that was missing from the second unit earlier in the season. His ability to attack, distribute, and move without the ball adds dimensions to Milwaukee’s offensive sets that weren’t always present before his arrival.
General manager Jon Horst is looking like a genius for swapping out MarJon Beauchamp, who was already cut by the Clippers, for a useful backup combo guard in Porter Jr.
While the blockbuster Middleton-Kuzma trade grabbed the headlines, it's these under-the-radar moves that often make the biggest difference over the course of an 82-game season.
As the Bucks march toward the playoffs, Porter Jr.'s role will be crucial. He may not be a game-changer in the traditional sense, but his ability to keep the team afloat when the stars sit could end up being one of the most valuable contributions to Milwaukee’s championship aspirations.
For a player who came in as an afterthought, Porter Jr. is making sure he's impossible to ignore.