Milwaukee Bucks waive Kevin Porter Jr. after rejecting Nuggets trade

The Milwaukee Bucks have waived guard Kevin Porter Jr., opting to absorb his $5.39 million salary as dead money rather than accepting a trade offer from the Denver Nuggets.

According to reports, Denver proposed a package that included Zeke Nnaji, two future second-round picks, and a second-round pick swap in exchange for Porter. The Bucks reportedly declined the deal due to an unwillingness to take on Nnaji’s $7.47 million player option for the 2027-28 season. Salary cap specialists surveyed on the decision noted that the Bucks could have benefited from the additional draft assets, especially given their limited second-round picks in the coming years.

Porter, 26, averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.2 rebounds in 38 games last season before being sidelined by a torn meniscus and subsequent surgery. Following his release, Porter is considered a free agent and may attract interest from both NBA teams looking for backcourt depth and clubs in Europe.