Kevin Porter's departure, finalized Tuesday, is the last roster move before Wednesday's opener in Washington. Pete Nance returns on a two-way deal, and Nate Ament is close to his debut.
Last season
Milwaukee went 32-50, bottom ten on both ends with a net rating of minus-6.1, and missed the playoffs. Porter ran the offense for stretches, and ESPN described him as the team's assist leader when the cut came. Washington was worse at 17-65, though Anthony Davis averaged 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds across his 20 games there.
This summer
Jon Horst rebuilt the roster in one June week, sending Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis, then drafting Brayden Burries at 10 and Ament at 13. Taylor Jenkins took the bench. Myles Turner arrived from Indiana. Payroll now sits at $191.4 million, under the $200.4 million tax line.
October 17 to 19
The frontcourt cleared first. Nance, Johni Broome, Jake Stephens and Marcus Garrett all left within two days. Then Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted a 4 p.m. Monday deadline to move one guaranteed contract, and Porter was the choice, $5.4 million for this season included. Owczarski also reported Ament back at practice after his left ankle issue.
October 20
Nance returned on a two-way contract, per Hoops Rumors and the Journal Sentinel, and the club announced its opening night roster. Horst, as Owczarski relayed, has been open that neither Jaquez Jr. nor Herro may be extended, and Jaquez Jr. called his own outlook hour-by-hour. Jericho Sims is still not cleared from the undisclosed issue he picked up October 16.
Wednesday
The Bucks open at the Wizards after four days off, the start of two straight on the road. Brian Keefe's team lists Tristan Vukcevic and Jamir Watkins out and AJ Dybantsa uncertain. Milwaukee's open question is who runs the second unit without Porter. Ryan Rollins averaged 5.6 assists last season, and Burries scored 14 in the preseason finale at Indiana.
Why did the Bucks waive Kevin Porter?
Milwaukee had to move one guaranteed contract off the roster by Monday's deadline, per the Journal Sentinel, and Porter's $5.4 million deal was the one chosen.
Will Nate Ament play in the opener?
He returned to practice Monday, and Owczarski reported he should be available in Washington if his recovery held up Tuesday.
