Kevin Porter Jr. is a perfect trade candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks: talented enough to attract interest but not quite the right fit for the team anymore. The 26-year-old averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in 2025-26, shooting 46.5% from the field, 32.2% from three, and 87.8% from the stripe across 38 appearances (36 starts).

That is legitimate production from a guard who can create his own shot and set up teammates. However, his season ended early because of a knee injury, and Milwaukee has its own roster decisions to make.

We have to highlight the Bucks’ crowded roster and their efforts to explore trades rather than simply waive players. If Milwaukee is going all-in for a rebuild and a clearer long-term plan, moving Porter for other talent or draft capital could make sense.

The key is finding a trade partner that values what Porter does well without expecting him to be a finished product. Here are four packages worth considering, from a Lakers swing to a Charlotte deal built around a young point guard.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Proposed Trade Details

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kevin Porter Jr.

Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Dalton Knecht, 2031 second-round pick, 2033 second-round pick

The Los Angeles Lakers could use another guard who can create his own offense, and Porter would give them a different look from a traditional catch-and-shoot option. He averaged 17.4 points and 7.4 assists per game for Milwaukee in 2025-26, showing that he can handle significant playmaking responsibilities when given the opportunity.

The biggest concern is his health: Porter appeared in only 38 games before his season ended because of a knee injury. Los Angeles would need to be comfortable with his medical outlook before making this kind of bet.

Dalton Knecht gives Milwaukee a young perimeter scorer who still has room to develop. After JJ Redick admitted his future in Los Angeles is bleak, now is the time for a trade.

He averaged 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes across 54 games in 2025-26, shooting 45.5% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but his rookie season offered more encouragement: he averaged 9.1 points and shot 37.6% from deep in 78 games.

Knecht is still searching for a consistent role, and a rebuilding Milwaukee team could give him more minutes to find one.

The two second-round picks are what make this package more interesting for the Bucks. Knecht alone probably wouldn’t be enough to make Milwaukee seriously consider moving a productive guard, but a young shooter plus draft capital offers two paths to value.

The Lakers, meanwhile, would be betting that Porter’s shot creation and passing can make their offense more dynamic. It’s a gamble, particularly given the injury concerns, but one that could pay off if Porter returns healthy.

2. San Antonio Spurs

Proposed Trade Details

San Antonio Spurs Receive: Kevin Porter Jr.

Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Harrison Barnes, 2033 first-round pick, 2032 second-round pick

This is the most interesting deal if Milwaukee’s priority is to turn an established player into future assets. Porter is younger than Harrison Barnes and offers considerably more on-ball creation. His 17.4 points and 7.4 assists per game in 2025-26 illustrate the difference: Porter can score and create shots for teammates.

Barnes is a dependable veteran, but he is more of a complementary forward than a lead creator. If the Bucks want to give younger players more responsibility, moving Porter for a first-round pick could help clarify the direction of the roster.

Barnes still has value. He averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 77 games for the San Antonio Spurs in 2025-26, shooting 45.6% from the field and a strong 38.8% from three-point range.

At 34, he is no longer a long-term building block, but he remains a capable floor spacer who can play alongside young stars without demanding the ball. His experience could also help Milwaukee’s younger players learn how to operate within an NBA offense.

The Bucks would have to decide whether his veteran presence is worth taking on or whether they should look to reroute him to another team.

For San Antonio, Porter would bring a different skill set to a roster with championship ambitions. A guard who averaged more than seven assists per game could give the Spurs another creator and help take some of the playmaking burden off their primary stars. However, the first-round pick is the sticking point.

San Antonio shouldn’t surrender valuable draft capital without confidence in Porter’s health and a clear role for him. But the Spurs are going for an NBA championship, and Porter Jr. could fit perfectly behind Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox in the pecking order.

3. Memphis Grizzlies

Proposed Trade Details

Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Kevin Porter Jr.

Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Ty Jerome, 2032 second-round pick, 2033 second-round pick

This trade would be a bet on upside and opportunity. Porter has already shown that he can produce as a high-usage guard, and the Memphis Grizzlies could view him as another playmaker who can provide a stopgap in a tanking season that features potential Rookie of the Year Cameron Boozer.

The Grizzlies would be acquiring a player with proven scoring and passing ability, but they would also be accepting a meaningful amount of risk.

Ty Jerome (29) is an intriguing return for Milwaukee because his production has been impressive when available. In just 15 games for Memphis in 2025-26, he averaged 19.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists while shooting 47.4% from the field and 42.0% from three-point range.

That is an eye-catching stat line, although the small sample matters: it would be a mistake to treat 15 games as proof that he can sustain that production over a full season. Jerome’s shooting and playmaking could make him a useful bridge player, while the second-round pick gives Milwaukee a modest additional asset.

The question is whether Memphis would want to exchange a productive guard for Porter when both players come with availability questions. Jerome’s efficient shooting could make him attractive to other teams, too, so the Grizzlies would need a strong reason to make the swap.

Milwaukee, on the other hand, could view this as a chance to acquire a guard whose skill set complements a younger roster while adding draft compensation. If the Bucks believe Jerome’s production can continue in a larger role, this package has appeal beyond the pick itself.

4. Charlotte Hornets

Proposed Trade Details

Charlotte Hornets Receive: Kevin Porter Jr.

Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Rob Dillingham, 2033 first-round pick

This is the most intriguing long-term bet for Milwaukee. Rob Dillingham is still young, and his early NBA career has been a winding road. After being selected No. 8 overall in the 2024 draft, he moved from Minnesota to Chicago before joining Charlotte in September 2026.

He averaged 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 30 games with Chicago in 2025-26, shooting 42.8% from the field. Those are modest numbers, but he also averaged 21.5 minutes per game, giving him a larger role than he had in Minnesota. For a Bucks team focused on rebuilding, Dillingham represents a chance to develop a young guard rather than simply replace Porter with another veteran.

Charlotte would be betting that Porter can offer more immediate production. His 17.4 points and 7.4 assists per game last season make him a much more established offensive player than Dillingham, even with the knee injury hanging over his value.

Porter could help the Hornets improve their half-court offense and provide another player capable of creating his own shot. Remember, the Hornets no longer have LaMelo Ball to put up points and assists, so they need as much help as they can get.

For Milwaukee, though, this is the kind of package that fits a genuine rebuild. Dillingham’s combination of speed, ball-handling, and playmaking gives the Bucks a developmental project with upside, while the first-round pick adds a more tangible asset.

This might be the strongest long-term package for Milwaukee if Charlotte is willing to include a first-round pick. The Hornets get a more proven creator, while the Bucks acquire a young guard and a premium asset for the future.