With Antetokounmpo back on the court for the struggling Bucks, the front office looks to bring in another star to help Antetokounmpo bring Milwaukee back into the playoff picture.

As Antetokounmpo missed much of the season with a calf strain, the Bucks fell to 11th in the Eastern Conference. Now, with Antetokounmpo back and the Bucks at 14-19, Milwaukee is desperate to add a star to pair alongside him.

Some players linked with the Bucks, who have had good seasons on not-so-good teams, include Zach LaVine and Michael Porter Jr. The Bucks have many options to give Antetokounmpo a scoring option and relieve the pressure.

Porter Jr. is considered a “name worth watching” for the Bucks, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.

Milwaukee is not known as a big-spending market in the league. As Antetokounmpo enters his 13th NBA season, the Bucks have rarely splashed to give him a star wingman. Despite Antetokounmpo winning the Finals with the Bucks in the 2020-21 season, he was often outmatched against superteams loaded with All-Star talent.

For the 2023-24 season, the Bucks made one of their biggest moves in franchise history by acquiring seven-time All-NBA star point guard Damian Lillard in a massive three-team trade. Lillard delivered in Milwaukee, averaging 24.6 points over two seasons, but the Bucks never returned to the Finals.

Lillard’s time in Milwaukee ended on a down note as he tore his Achilles tendon just three games into the playoff run last season. He was subsequently waived and re-signed in Portland.

With trade talks surrounding Antetokounmpo throughout this season, the Bucks need to bring back another star to help him contend.

According to Bleacher Report, the Bucks have been linked to Michael Porter Jr., a signal that Milwaukee is once again exploring ways to raise its ceiling around Antetokounmpo.

As Antetokounmpo continues to show he is still in his prime, the Bucks cannot waste such a generational talent. The pressure to surround him with enough scoring and shot creation to truly contend continues to grow. Milwaukee has talent like Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, but against the league’s superteams, the margin for error is slim. 

Rivers hasn’t been able to carry the Antetokounmpo-less Bucks into the playoff picture, and now that he’s back, they need another star to truly contend. Adding another high-level offensive piece could be the difference between staying competitive and making a legitimate Finals push.

Porter Jr. would bring exactly what the Bucks have lacked at times. He was an elite talent in high school who fell in the draft solely due to back injuries. Porter Jr. missed his entire rookie season but has been an elite isolation scorer in the league since then.

Porter Jr. is currently in his first season away from the Nuggets, averaging a career-high 25.8 points for Brooklyn. He was a solid piece on the contending Nuggets but was shipped to the 10-20 rebuilding Nets. Porter Jr. is a very selfish scorer, but an elite-level one at that.

If the Bucks want to take a risk, Porter Jr. is the guy to get. He would be an elite wing option to pair with Antetokounmpo. Porter Jr. is a proven scoring threat and would create plenty of space and opportunities for Antetokounmpo. His shooting ability would force defenses to stay honest, opening driving lanes for Giannis and easing the offensive burden.

Some questions come with any potential move. Health, consistency, and defensive fit all factor into Milwaukee’s decision-making. Still, the upside is clear. A player like Porter Jr. can swing a playoff series when the offense stalls.

Porter Jr. is currently earning $38,333,050 in Brooklyn, but in today’s league with the CBA apron, the playoff window is narrower than ever, and you need to spend now to have a real chance.

Whether or not this link turns into anything concrete, it highlights the Bucks’ mindset. Treading water is not an option. If Milwaukee wants to keep pace in a crowded Eastern Conference, adding another star next to Giannis is a necessary step.