Bobby Portis is the long-term answer at center for the Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby Portis is the long-term answer at center for the Milwaukee Bucks: Bobby is proving his worth

While he’ll make $4.3 million this season, which might be the best value contract in the NBA, Portis is expected to decline his $4.6 million player option for 2022-23 in favor of earning a major payday. However, the Bucks absorbed Portis’ Bird Rights after re-signing him, so they’ll be able to offer more cash than any other team regardless of their salary cap situation next offseason.

Milwaukee is positioned to retain the services of Bobby Portis for the long-term future, and it may have been set up that way all along. Either way, Portis should stay with the Bucks for years to come and eventually become the starting center on a regular basis, as the relentless forward continues to shine in his elevated role.

Portis may not be an effective defensive anchor like Lopez, but he’s more productive offensively and has built excellent chemistry with the star core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday.

The Bucks are 8-3 with Portis in the starting lineup this season, with Bobby recently having his best game as a Buck on Wednesday evening against Detroit. That one included 28 points and 10 rebounds on 10-of-14 fields goals and 6-7 from three across 31 minutes.

Due to his increased production, solid efficiency, gradual two-way growth, complementary abilities, beloved relationship with the city, and with Brook Lopez reaching the older stage of his career, Bobby Portis could be the long-term answer at the starting center position for the Milwaukee Bucks.