11:00 pm: Porter has formally exercised the option, according to the NBA transaction log at RealGM.
7:40 pm: Kevin Porter Jr. is picking up his $5.39MM player option to remain with the Bucks for the 2026/27 season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), who says the lefty guard still appears to be part of the team’s post-Giannis Antetokounmpo plans.
Porter, who battled a knee injury in 2025/26, played 38 games in his first full season as a Buck after coming over from the Clippers in a mid-season trade during the 2024/25 season. The 26-year-old averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per night while making 36 starts.
The Bucks project to have a crowded backcourt, with new acquisitions Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Brayden Burries, Tuesday’s 10th overall pick, joining Ryan Rollins. But Porter offers a slightly different skill set than the rest of the group as an athletic slasher with a creative handle and a shaky outside shot.
Milwaukee is still waiting to see whether Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. will pick up their respective $3.8MM player options. Gary Harris and Jericho Sims are reportedly opting in along with Porter.
