Hoops Rumors reported Thursday that Golden State has contacted Milwaukee, among other teams, about Porzingis, and Nate Ament is cleared after two weeks listed day-to-day. The 0-1 Bucks host Chicago on Friday with a frontcourt foul problem still fresh from the opener.
Last season
Milwaukee finished 32-50 and was outscored by 6.1 points per 100 possessions. The June trade that sent Antetokounmpo to Miami brought back Herro, Jaquez, Ware and Jakucionis, and Taylor Jenkins took the bench in April. This is a group with almost no shared history, so every early night in October counts as evidence of what it can become.
October 14
Chicago beat the Bucks 125-104 in a preseason game in Milwaukee, but that score tells little. Herro, Turner, Rollins, Kuzma, Jaquez, Green and Trent all sat for rest, and Dieng and Cormac Ryan led the team with 4 points apiece. Friday will be the first meeting between these clubs with Milwaukee's full rotation available.
October 21
The opener turned late. Milwaukee led 93-90 after three quarters, then gave up a 14-0 run and 38 points in the fourth. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jim Owczarski noted that Ware carried five fouls before the third quarter ended and fouled out with 9:33 left, forcing Sims in as the third big. Anthony Davis finished with 34 and 12 in the 128-116 defeat.
October 22
Two threads moved. Ament, listed day-to-day with a left ankle issue since Oct. 7, was cleared Wednesday, which closes the longest-running injury question. Hoops Rumors' Luke Adams wrote that the Warriors have reached out to several clubs, Milwaukee among them, about Porzingis. So far that is contact and nothing more. Still, it follows last week's report from Fischer that the Bucks are exploring trades.
October 23
Chicago arrives 0-1 and without Nic Claxton, who is out with a hamstring injury, while Dailyn Swain and Jordan Hawkins are day-to-day with illness. The Bulls played at a 103.2 pace last season, five possessions faster than Milwaukee did. The question for Jenkins is how he keeps two bigs on the floor for 48 minutes when one of them spent Wednesday on the bench in foul trouble.
When is the Bucks' home opener this season?
Friday, Oct. 23, against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum. The Bucks then visit the 76ers the next night.
Are the Bucks trading for Porzingis?
No deal has been reported. Hoops Rumors reported that the Warriors contacted Milwaukee and other teams about Porzingis, and nothing beyond that contact has come out.
