In this crazy NBA world, the Milwaukee Bucks have made sensible, smart choices by resigning Bobby Portis and adding veteran Joe Ingles to their championship-winning roster.
The Bucks know that they don’t need a KD or a Kyrie-type trade to put them into title contention. Nor do they need a $100M (overpriced, if you ask me) Jalen Bruson-type trade to get them over the top.
They already have a contending roster and don’t want to unbalance the years of chemistry their 15 championship-winning players have created.
Plus, the have the Greek Freak on their side: Giannis Antekokounmpo.
The Bucks’ 2020/21 championship win proved that all you need is a franchise superstar (Giannis), and a solid supporting cast around him (Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Pat Connington, Bobby Portis, Brooks Lopez, Serge Ianka, and Grayson Allen).
Keeping that supporting cast is vital for the Bucks to contend again next season, which Milwaukee knew very well.
That is why they resigned Bobby Portis to a 4-year, $49M extension, along with adding Utah’s Joe Ingles to further support Giannis.
Firstly, keeping Portis was a must for Milwaukee. He replaced an injured Brooks Lopez for a vast majority of last season, putting up a career high 14.6 PPG and 9.1 RPG. With Lopez getting older and more injury prone, I’d expect Portis to fully take the load of Milwaukee’s staring center spot very soon.
As for Joe Ingles, he was an unsung hero in Utah. The runner up for the Sixth Man of The Year Award in the 2020/21 season, Ingles will fit in on Milwaukee’s offense nicely.
His decent 3-point shot will draw away defenders from Giannis, leaving him more space in the paint to attack the rim. Plus, if teams still double-team Giannis, Ingles can just fire off threes.
Milwaukee has been a role model organization these past five years as they have stayed away from controversial signings and foolish trades by just complementing their franchise superstar with versatile, all-around great role-players.
Milwaukee will be contending for the NBA championship again next season as Giannis will most likely put up another MVP-caliber year. Fortunately for the Bucks, Giannis performs without hesitation and controversy. Unlike some of Brooklyn’s superstars.
Actually, I should be saying Brooklyn’s former superstars.
Images Source:
