Bucks GM hints at plan for Damian Lillard replacement at point guard

In a desperate ploy to convince two-time league MVP Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, still just 30, not to demand a trade, the team opted to stretch-and-waive its injured second-best player, nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, to sign 3-and-D center Myles Turner.

Ditching Lillard — who went on to ink a three-year , $42 million deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers — meant that the Bucks would officially need to determine a long-term succession plan at the starting point guard position.

After tearing his Achilles tendon during Milwaukee's brief five-game first round playoff series loss to the Indiana Pacers this spring, Lillard's fate for 2025-26 seemed tenuous at best. In reporting about Lillard's new deal, Shams Charania of ESPN revealed that he would miss the entire year recuperating.

But he would have become an expiring contract to possibly be dealt for value in 2026-27. Instead, Milwaukee will pay him $22.5 million annually not to play for the team.

While chatting with The Athletic's Eric Nehm, Bucks general manager Jon Horst has revealed the team's thinking for its next starting point guard.

Horst noted that Kevin Porter Jr., who inked a two-year, $10.5 million contract to return to Milwaukee this summer, had an impressive showing with the club.

"He’s another player that I think stepped up in the biggest moments in the playoffs," Horst told Nehm. "With no playoff experience, he came into a very hostile environment, pressure-loaded environment, and I thought was very, very good."

Porter was acquired in a midseason swap with the L.A. Clippers. The 6-foot-4 USC product averaged 11.7 points on .494/.408/.871 shooting splits, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals across 30 regular season games (two starts) with Milwaukee.

Those numbers were fairly similar in the playoffs, as Porter averaged 11.2 points while slashing .396/.467/.846, plus 5.4 dimes, 3.6 boards and 0.8 steals per.

Horst seemed encouraged by Porter's chemistry with Antetokounmpo.

"He plays well off of Giannis, and people forget that a few years ago he was one of the best catch-and-shoot 3-point shooters in the league," Horst said. "He’s big, he’s physical, he can create for himself, he can create for others and can make shots. And he grew defensively with us this year, and I think he’s very capable on that end."

As for whether or not Porter would start the season as the Bucks' starting point guard, Horst revealed who would ultimately be making that call.

"Whether he’s our starter or not our starter, that’s for Doc (Rivers) to decide, but obviously we’ve invested in him and we want him around," Horst added. "But for us to get that continuity of a guard who we thought played well with us after we acquired him was huge and I think he’s primed to have a really big year. He’s in the right environment, he’s in the right group that loves him and supports him and is to give him the chance to be his best."

Beyond Lillard's dead cap hit, Porter is the best-compensated point guard on the roster via his new deal.

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