Kevin Porter Jr. is officially out of the Milwaukee Bucks, with the franchise waiving the guard to clear a roster spot ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. The move, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, marks a swift exit for the former first-round pick despite a promising start to his tenure in Wisconsin. While Porter delivered a career-best statistical output last season, a lingering right knee injury sidelined him for the majority of the year, and subsequent struggles during preseason play convinced management to pivot in a different direction.
Milwaukee cuts ties after injury-plagued season, leaving Sacramento Kings as prime target
The waiver leaves Porter on the free agent market, immediately positioning him as a high-value target for teams seeking backcourt depth. The Sacramento Kings emerge as the most logical landing spot, having suffered a catastrophic loss when Ben Simmons tore his Achilles tendon on Sunday, a season-ending injury that decimated their guard rotation. Porter’s demonstrated ability to create offense and facilitate play makes him an ideal replacement, offering the Kings a proven NBA-caliber option to stabilize their perimeter game without the risk associated with untested rookies.
Porter’s journey to Milwaukee was turbulent, having started his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, spent three seasons with the Houston Rockets, and began the 2024-25 campaign with the Los Angeles Clippers before being traded to the Bucks. In his 38 games with Milwaukee, he averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and a career-high 7.4 assists, proving he could thrive in a high-scoring offense. As he seeks a new home, Porter must leverage his recent production to secure a starting role, with the Kings representing the most urgent and suitable opportunity in the current NBA landscape.
Source: Bleacher Report
