Heat, Blazers, Kings Eye Kevin Porter Jr.

Miami, Portland and Sacramento are each considering a move for the 26-year-old free agent guard waived by Milwaukee before the season.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball

Heat, Blazers, Kings Eye Kevin Porter Jr.

The Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings are all exploring signing free agent guard Kevin Porter Jr., who was waived by Milwaukee before the 2025-26 season. Miami, which entered Sunday's game against Sacramento with a 3-6 record, has an apparent need for another playmaker.

Why it matters

Porter is a 26-year-old guard whose availability has drawn interest from several teams with different needs. Milwaukee's decision to waive him before the season leaves open whether a new team can use his playmaking to address gaps in their rotations.

Porter averaged 17.4 points and 7.4 assists last season. The Bucks outscored opponents by 7.8 points per 100 possessions with Porter and Antetokounmpo together in 2025-26, but whether any team will sign him remains unresolved.

The players

Kevin Porter Jr.

Free agent guard waived by the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2025-26 season, who previously shared the floor with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Miami Heat

NBA franchise based in Miami that entered Sunday's game against Sacramento with a 3-6 record and is seeking another playmaker.

Portland Trail Blazers

NBA franchise based in Portland that is exploring a signing of Porter alongside its existing guards Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday.

Sacramento Kings

NBA franchise based in Sacramento that is interested in Porter as it explores replacing Ben Simmons.

The details

The Portland Trail Blazers have joined the Miami Heat in exploring a possible signing of Porter, and the Kings remain interested as they look at replacing Ben Simmons. Portland's backcourt includes Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, while Ja Morant is sidelined.

Before the 2025-26 season: Milwaukee waived Kevin Porter Jr.
Thursday: The Heat lost 120-100 to Golden State, shooting 40.7% from the field.
Sunday: The Heat host Sacramento.

Season Trajectory

The interest from three teams with different needs shows how waived veterans like Porter can reshape the middle of an NBA season. Miami's 3-6 start and Portland's injury-thinned backcourt show how quickly playmaking depth becomes a priority.

Porter's availability could change fantasy rosters and rotation minutes for Miami, Portland and Sacramento depending on which team signs him. A signing would also affect how those teams distribute playmaking duties among their current guards.

The takeaway

Teams often turn to waived veterans mid-season when a specific playmaking gap appears, and Porter's situation shows how a single open roster spot can attract several interested clubs at once.