Around the Beat: Porter Out, Nance Wanted, Ament Back

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Monday, October 19

The outlets that cover Milwaukee spent Monday on the roster crunch, the Kevin Porter Jr. cut and a trade market that keeps widening. The club's own record backs some of those arguments and leaves others without evidence.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Kevin Porter Jr. led the roster in minutes last season, 33.2 a night over 38 games, with 17.4 points and 7.4 assists. Behind the Buck Pass argued today that moving him would open a path for Kasparas Jakucionis and could spare Jericho Sims in the logjam. Jakucionis is 20 with one year of experience. Nothing on file shows what he does with those minutes.

Oct. 15 and 16

Jake Fischer reported that the Bucks, Lakers and Grizzlies were exploring trades, and the next day added the Hornets. Hoops Rumors reported today that Memphis is looking to move Clayton, with Sacramento possibly interested. Nothing in either report puts Clayton in Milwaukee, and the Fischer items name no Bucks player. The talk is real as reported. The target is unknown.

Oct. 17 and 18

Milwaukee waived Stephens, Broome and Nance, and Marcus Garrett, who joined on the 17th, was gone by the 18th. Behind the Buck Pass wrote that waiving Nance does not end his tenure, and RealGM reported that multiple contenders are interested in him. Interest elsewhere does not change the math here. He is off the roster.

Monday afternoon

Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the Bucks had until 4 p.m. to move one guaranteed contract, and Hoops Rumors reported the same day that they cut Porter. Owczarski also wrote that the club is very early in rebuilding draft capital. The pick list agrees: firsts from 2027 through 2030 are swaps, and the 2030 second is owed to Orlando.

Monday practice

Owczarski reported that Nate Ament returned to practice and should be available in Washington if his recovery goes well Tuesday. The injury list has Ament and Sims both day-to-day, each with an October 21 estimate. Owczarski also reported that Jaime Jaquez Jr. is taking a potential rookie scale extension hour by hour. Nothing on file says talks have produced a deal.

Next The opener is Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Wizards, with Ament and Sims both carrying return estimates for that night. The Bucks host the Bulls on Oct. 23.

Did the Bucks cut Kevin Porter Jr.?

Hoops Rumors reported on Oct. 19 that the Bucks cut Porter. He averaged 17.4 points and 7.4 assists in 38 games last season.

When do the Bucks open the 2026-27 season?

Milwaukee opens Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Wizards. The home opener against the Bulls follows on Oct. 23.