Michael Porter Jr. is becoming a hot commodity as the NBA trade deadline approaches. Will the Brooklyn Nets trade him, and what could they get in return for the sharpshooting forward?
Two Eastern Conference Teams Emerge As Suitors For Former NBA Champion
Porter Jr. has emerged as the face of the Nets after just 26 appearances. Porter, who is in the midst of a career season, has scored 20+ points in 20 of 26 games, including five straight. The 27-year-old forward averages 25.8 points and 3.8 threes while shooting 49.6% from the field and 41% from the 3-point line. He has also posted six double-doubles, grabbing 7.5 threes and doling out 3.3 assists.
“Mike is a leader by example,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said, talking about Porter’s all-star candidacy. He shows up, and he has always been very professional since I met him at 19. He’s worked on his body and came in to do his work. Obviously, that shot is pure, but he puts a lot of time into it,” Fernandez said. “He makes open shots, contested shots, and impossible shots. That’s the work that not a lot of people see, and his teammates see it.”
More importantly, Brooklyn has been more competitive lately. The Nets saw their season-high three-game win streak on Monday, and they have won six of 10 overall. Still, they are 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 10-20 record.
As good a season as Porter Jr. is having, the Nets have a tough decision to make. Is Porter someone the Nets can build around, or do they trade him at his highest value? The Nets got a 2032 first-rounder and Porter from Denver for Cam Johnson this summer.
Porter Jr. is slated to make $40.8 million next season and is extension eligible this summer. The Nets have a lot of cap room, so they can easily extend him if they decide to do so. But the Nets have issues that Porter can’t solve on his own, and they’re the youngest team in the NBA.
Brooklyn is one of the worst shooting teams in the league. The Nets, who are 26th in offensive efficiency, rank 27th in field goal percentage and 24th in three-point percentage. Despite giving up the fewest points in the league, the Nets rank in the bottom third of the league in field goal and three-point percentage defense.
Who Is Interest In Michael Porter Jr.?
According to reports, three teams have reached out to Brooklyn about Porter’s availability. According to Evan Sidery of Forbes, the Golden State has been interested in the 6-10 forward since before the Nets acquired him. Sidery also said that the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks have also contacted the Nets.
The Warriors and Bucks make a lot of sense for Porter. Both teams have been middling, though they still hope to keep their championship hopes intact. They both need an offensive boost.
Golden State has won two straight and sits in eighth in the Western Conference. The Warriors own the third-best defense but are only 18th in offensive efficiency and 21st in scoring, averaging 115.6 points. They are also 25th in field goal percentage at 45.6%.
Milwaukee, which recently got Giannis Antetokounmpo back from injury, fell to Washington 114-113 last night. The Bucks, who are 22nd in offensive efficiency, are 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 14-20 record.
“It remains to be seen whether he [Bucks general manager Jon Horst]can pull off anything significant, as Milwaukee is (by its own doing) limited in assets and options,” Sam Amick of The Athletic said. “The list of names under consideration is likely much longer than what is publicly known, but a few have emerged. The Kings’[Zach] LaVine is a confirmed target, as is — according to ESPN — Sacramento’s Malik Monk and Portland’s Jerami Grant. League sources say Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. is a name worth watching as well.”
Detroit is a bit of a surprise, though the Pistons do need to add to the roster if they plan to be true contenders. The Pistons have the best record in the East and second-best in the NBA at 25-8. The Pistons also have the league’s fourth-best scoring margin. They are seventh in the Association in offensive efficiency, though they are in the middle of the pack in terms of shooting.
What Could The Nets Get in Return For Porter Jr.?
Brooklyn should be able to get quite a haul, mainly adding a youngster or two and some draft capital. The Nets own 30 draft picks, including 12 first-rounders, from 2026-2032.
Pistons Realistic Offer
Detroit’s most realistic offer for Porter Jr. would be sending Tobias Harris (with an expiring contract) and either Jaden Ivey or Isaiah Stewart to Brooklyn. The Pistons would likely have to send two of their seven first-rounders to Brooklyn. The Pistons own their own picks from 2026-2032, plus a bunch of second-round selections.
Here’s the thing: this trade doesn’t make sense for the Pistons. The Pistons need someone who can create offense beyond Cade Cunningham, and trading Ivey, who has been highly efficient since returning from injury, would make that need even greater. Similarly, trading Stewart, who is having a nice bounce-back season, would mean that the Pistons would need to go out to get a backup center.
Now, if the Nets would take Harris and Caris LeVert, who has one more year left on his deal, for Porter, then the Pistons would likely jump at the deal. However, in that case, the Pistons would likely have to send two or three firsts and potentially some second-rounders.
“I’m still expecting Detroit’s front office to be opportunistic but not aggressive,” Hunter Patterson of The Athletic said. “The Pistons have a slim lead over the New York Knicks for the No. 1 seed in the conference. Trajan Langdon, Detroit’s president of basketball operations, has openly expressed his desire to let the team continue growing internally since taking over at the beginning of last season.”
“While there could be some chances to improve around the margins — say another reliable 3-point shooter outside of Duncan Robinson or a scoring threat off the bench — don’t expect the Pistons to sacrifice their youth and draft capital to make any big-swing trades that could alter the fabric of the roster.”
Warriors Realistic offer
Golden State would have to send the Nets Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Buddy Hield, along with a first-round pick. This trade makes sense for both teams, as the Nets have been interested in Kuminga for a while, and the Warriors believe they have enough depth to handle losing three players. Plus, Hield and Kuminga have struggled and have had limited roles this season.
The only question is whether the Nets want Hield, and if not, they may require an extra draft pick or two to make the trade. Hield is under contract for two more seasons, with the last year being a player option. The Nets would also have to make two additional roster moves before this deal can happen.
Bucks Realistic Offer
Here is the thing: Milwaukee doesn’t really have any ability to acquire Porter unless it goes through a multi-team trade and trades away the majority of their seven remaining draft picks. The Bucks’ best offer could be Kyle Kuzma or Myles Turner, along with Bobby Portis, A.J. Green, plus draft capital. But it is unlikely that the Nets are interested in anyone besides Green.
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