Central Division Updates: Portis Calls Giannis Trade Odds “50-50”; Buzelis Nears 100 Blocks; Questions on Huerter Fit; Strus Close to Debut
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Milwaukee, WI — Bucks forward Bobby Portis told the “Run It Back” podcast that he views the chances of Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded this summer as “even money.”
“I’m at a five, bro. I’m right in the middle,” Portis said when asked to assess the likelihood of a deal. He added that Milwaukee’s objective remains a championship, not merely a play-in berth, and acknowledged uncertainty about how general manager Jon Horst will reshape the roster. Portis noted that chatter about Antetokounmpo’s future has surfaced every offseason since 2020, except for the team’s 2021 title run, and expects speculation to intensify ahead of the late-June draft.
Chicago, IL — Bulls forward Matas Buzelis is on the verge of becoming the franchise’s first player in nearly ten years to reach 100 blocks in a season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The second-year wing sits at 94 rejections, seventh-best in the NBA. “I’m really good at timing the block and knowing when guys will try and finish,” Buzelis said, citing his length and verticality as key factors.
Detroit, MI — Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor labeled the Pistons’ deadline move for Kevin Huerter a misstep, arguing the club sacrificed needed scoring and a secondary creator by sending out Jaden Ivey. Huerter is averaging 13.6 minutes across eight appearances since joining Detroit.
Cleveland, OH — Cavaliers wing Max Strus is expected to make his season debut within the next week, reports The Athletic. The update came in a feature on the Strus Foundation’s efforts to support children facing serious health challenges.
Source: Hoops Rumors
