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Milwaukee Bucks Pre-Free Agency News: Portis & Nwora

By Harrison Carter

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 20: Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates with fans during the second half in Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 20: Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates with fans during the second half in Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Ahead of the start of NBA free agency, the “Opt-in deadline” of June 29th brought some important Milwaukee Bucks news to the table.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Bucks forward Bobby Portis has decided to decline his player option worth $4.6 million. This does not come as a surprise, as it was largely speculated that Portis would opt out of the second year of his two-year, $9 million deal that he signed last offseason.

Declining the option sends Portis to unrestricted free agency, where he can sign freely with any team he chooses. All signs point to Portis returning to the Milwaukee Bucks, however.

"Recently, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer would report that “Bobby Portis seems destined to return to Milwaukee on a four-year deal north of $40 million.”"

While other teams could certainly try to lure him away with lucrative deals, it seems that Portis appreciates Milwaukee, as well as the fans, and wants to spend more of his career here. We will find out how true that is in the coming days.

Another piece of Bucks news involves forward Jordan Nwora. The Athletic’s Eric Nehm reported that Milwaukee has extended the qualifying offer to Nwora. This offer will make him a restricted free agent. Should he accept the offer, it will be around $2.01 million. Nwora is still free to field contract offers from other teams as a restricted free agent. and can accept Milwaukee’s qualifying offer at any time as long as the offer from the Bucks still stands.

Nwora has shown flashes of being a potential rotation player but simply has been too inconsistent. In stretches, Nwora can be a lights-out shooter and an electric offensive player, but often times he goes ice cold. Defensively, Nwora has lots to work on both on the ball and off the ball. My guess is that Nwora accepts the qualifying offer, as there have been no rumors of other teams interested in him at this time.

Whatever happens, it is an exciting time to be a basketball fan. With free agency right around the corner, there will surely be a lot of Milwaukee Bucks news in the near future.

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