- May 21, 2026
- 0
- 0
SportsMafia Wire graphic. Photo: Markus Spiske via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0. Team logos via ESPN.
The Milwaukee Bucks declined a trade offer that would have sent Kevin Porter Jr. to the Denver Nuggets before Monday's roster deadline, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
The proposed deal would have brought back Zeke Nnaji, two future second-round picks and a pick swap. Milwaukee balked at absorbing Nnaji's $7.47 million salary this season plus his matching player option for 2027/28.
The Bucks ultimately waived Porter, taking on his $5.39 million cap hit. Fischer consulted five rival salary cap specialists who all said they would have accepted Denver's offer, noting Milwaukee holds just four second-round picks total with none between 2028 and 2032.
The hesitation stems from future payroll concerns. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. face free agency, while Ryan Rollins may decline his $4 million option. Still, Fischer notes Milwaukee projects to carry nearly $50 million in cap space and questions whether better value exists for that $7.47 million slot.
Fischer also confirmed earlier Bucks-Lakers talks on a Jericho Sims-Dalton Knecht swap collapsed over a second-round pick discrepancy.
Mickey's Angle: Milwaukee's playing it safe with future flexibility, but passing on multiple picks for a waived player looks like a curious gamble with their limited draft capital.
Source: Hoops Rumors - written by Mickey the Mouth from the original report.