Traded to Brooklyn alongside a first-round pick in exchange for Cameron Johnson, Michael Porter Jr. is thriving on the Nets. Averaging 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists over 24 games played, Porter Jr.’s start to this season looks promising. But does he fit into Brooklyn’s timeline? Can he bring value to a contender missing an offensive piece?
Porter Jr.’s Stellar Play May Hinder The Brooklyn Nets’ Future
Why Denver Moved On
There were two main reasons why Denver decided to part ways with Porter Jr. Firstly, his max contract would restrict the team from making win-now moves. The Nuggets had four large contracts on their roster at the time of this trade. This includes Porter Jr.’s own contract, with the other three being those of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.
In addition, Porter Jr.’s inconsistent play, particularly in crucial moments during the playoffs, contributed to the Nuggets’ losses against the Timberwolves and the Thunder in consecutive years.
Brooklyn’s Agenda
However, the Brooklyn Nets did not come out on the short end of the stick. Firstly, they get a 2032 first-round pick, which can be quite valuable, particularly if the situation in Denver changes six or seven years down the line. This allows the Nets to pick high in the draft.
Brooklyn has five first-round picks from the 2026 draft to the 2028 draft. Three of the picks come unprotected. Houston can swap the 2027 first-rounder, and Philadelphia’s pick comes with an attached top-eight protection to its 2028 first. This means that in the coming years, they have fairly valuable picks, which they can use to rebuild.
An Asset Or A Cornerstone?
And then there is Porter Jr. With a quarter of the season over as of now, both the Nets and the rest of the league have been put on notice. In his first 10 games with the Nets, Porter Jr. had four games scoring above 30 points and seven games scoring more than 25 points. Porter Jr. is owed roughly $38 million this season, with $40 million due next year, and the Nets have enough cap space to pay him.
The Nets are far from contention. Porter Jr. might soon be an important trade asset, and if his remarkable play continues, the Nets will have the opportunity to trade him to a contending team that lacks scoring depth at the trade deadline.
An Ideal Fit?
A win-now team such as the Cavaliers or the Lakers could potentially trade for the 27-year-old Porter Jr. While money is an obvious issue, both the Lakers and Cavaliers are the ideal teams where Porter Jr. would fit. For Cleveland, he would be an ideal, although slightly more expensive and defensively less impactful, replacement for Isaac Okoro. However, the Cavaliers would benefit from Porter Jr.’s much greater offensive prowess.
As for the Lakers, despite being an offensively strong team, they will benefit from adding a bigger player on defense. Porter Jr. can fit the role well, despite his reputation as an average defender.
There is not a lot of interest in Michael Porter Jr.’s play in Brooklyn so far. However, the Brooklyn Nets need to make the best use of their draft capital and build for the future. The Nets’ best option would be to trade Porter Jr. to a win-now franchise by the trade deadline.
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