2. Jordan Nwora
Jordan Nwora was a second-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020. He entered the league as a proven collegiate scorer and shooter who averaged 18 ppg and shot better than 40 percent from three on more than six attempts a night his senior season at Louisville.
But Nwora has found it tough to crack a Bucks’ rotation that’s been pretty much set in stone since he arrived in Milwaukee. Despite showing flashes of that offensive skill set, he hasn’t met the expectations Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer has for his players on the defensive end.
That wouldn’t be as much of a concern coming off the bench in Portland, though. Any offensive boost he could provide the second unit would be helpful.
Playing a little more than 16 minutes per game this year, almost exclusively off the bench, Nwora is shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, the former first-team all-ACC forward also has enough size to play the four in small-ball lineups, if needed.
Like Bamba, Nwora would be a low-risk, high-reward option with a base salary of only $3 million next season, the final year of his current deal.