No Damian Lillard, no Khris Middleton, no problem. Kevin Porter Jr. has made the LA Clippers look senseless for trading him to the Milwaukee Bucks at the 2025 trade deadline. He is having the best year of his career, and the Bucks are reaping the benefits of a trade Lawrence Frank seemed to have agreed to with a blindfold over his eyes.
Porter Jr. has been on an unreal tear in December and appears ready to spoil the Clippers’ Christmas. So far this month, the former USC Trojan has posted four straight games of 20-plus points, and in every one of them, he has had five or more assists and two or more steals.
Thus, Porter Jr.’s seasonal averages over six games are 21.8 points and 5.8 assists, shooting 55.8% from the field and 61.8% from distance.
His career year, plus what Ryan Rollins is doing at such a young age, has kept Giannis Antetokounmpo cool, calm, and collected from immediately asking out. There is clear potential in Porter Jr. that the Bucks caught on to, which the Clippers did not, leading them into the bonuses of his offense.
The LA Clippers are missing Kevin Porter Jr. deeply, a player they did not cherish
Capable three-point shooting was always in Kevin Porter Jr.’s bag. He shot 37.5% in 2021-22, 36.6% in 2022-23, 40.8% in the second half of last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, and is in the early 60s this season. So why did he shoot 24.5% with the LA Clippers, a number that is a clear outlier in his career averages, negatively skewing his efficiency?
The issue was that Tyronn Lue forced Porter Jr. into a sixth-man role he was not comfortable with. The veteran guard started just two games for LA last season, and well, what do you know; those were his best performances as a Clipper.
In 37 minutes against the Houston Rockets, he recorded 19 points and six assists, and in 39 minutes against the Boston Celtics, he recorded 26 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
However, Lue and the Clippers’ front office did not see the obvious value in his starts and gave up Porter Jr. without breaking a sweat.
That said, the Clippers did not treasure him. Of course, now that they are struggling, they miss Porter Jr., but it is too late: the Bucks will not trade him this season and will have him next if he opts into his $5.3 million player option.