12:08pm: Porter’s extension is now official, the Rockets announced today in a press release.
“We value the player and the person that Scoot is becoming and are eager to invest in him and his journey,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said in a statement. “He’s expressed how happy he is to be with this organization and has shown his commitment to putting in the work both on and off the court. We are excited for the opportunity to continue to build something special with him.”
10:18am: Porter’s four-year extension will only be fully guaranteed for $15.86MM in year one, sources tell Charania (Twitter link).
ESPN’s Bobby Marks provides more details, tweeting that the Porter’s annual salaries in subsequent years will guarantee if he remains under contract through each June 30. For instance, his 2024/25 salary would guarantee if he hasn’t been waived by June 30, 2024.
Additionally, there’s language in the deal that will provide a path for Porter’s salaries in future seasons to become partially guaranteed before they become fully guaranteed, Marks adds (via Twitter).
Since Porter’s first-year salary is only worth $15.86MM, the total base value of the extension can only be worth up to about $71MM with 8% annual raises, so the $82.5MM total value (reported below) appears to include incentives. According to Marks, those incentives are related to games played and team success.
9:00am: The Rockets and guard Kevin Porter Jr. have agreed to a rookie scale contract extension, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Agent Sam Permut tells Wojnarowski that it’s a four-year, $82.5MM deal. However, according to Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link), only the first season is fully guaranteed.
Wojnarowski (Twitter link) describes the extension as having a “unique” structure that will have major upside for Porter while also providing protections for the team. Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link) says there are partial guarantees beyond the first year. The final season is a team option, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Porter, 22, was the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft and had a promising rookie season in Cleveland. However, he had some legal issues off the court prior to his second season and was then involved in a locker room incident early in 2021 that prompted the Cavaliers to trade him to Houston.
In his two seasons with the Rockets, Porter has established himself as the team’s starting point guard, averaging 15.9 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 4.2 RPG with a shooting line of .418/.357/.672 in 87 total games (31.5 MPG). Perhaps most importantly, there’s been no indication that his past behavior off the court and in the locker room has been a recurring issue in Houston.
We’ll have to wait for more details on the exact structure of Porter’s new contract, but the fact that it’s not fully guaranteed beyond the first year means the Rockets should have an out if they ultimately decide he’s not the right fit at point guard with the rest of their young core, or if any other off-court incidents take place down the road.
Even with a lucrative new deal for Porter on their books, the Rockets will still have plenty of financial flexibility during the summer of 2023. According to Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype (Twitter link), the club should be able to create a minimum of $30MM in cap room, and could get to $50MM+ by waiving non-guaranteed players (including Eric Gordon).
As our extension tracker shows, Porter is the ninth player to agree to a rookie scale extension in 2022. If he earns his full $82.5MM, Porter’s deal would be the seventh-most lucrative of those extensions, ahead of Keldon Johnson and Brandon Clarke.
A prove-it contract? I don’t necessarily disagree with the idea, but is that really the best way to deal with a guy as combative as Porter Jr.?
….yes?
I get the reverse logic angle, but with a guy like him I think a straightforward approach to risk management is fine.
Besides, they are already loaded with talent. No sense in risking tying up a lot of money in a guy with his history and who still has his flaws on the court. Flaws which could ultimately lead to all sort of valuations, good and bad.
KPJ has basically coinflip odds of taking this as disrespect or a challenge. And there’s no guarantee that if he chooses “challenge”, he’ll keep it that way. My prediction is that he’ll get fed up with not being given stacks similar to Murray or Poole.
That’s probably the reasoning behind him agreeing to the options based on a “gentleman’s agreement” If he out performs his contract.
It’s possible the team opts out of the extension to offer him a better contract. It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened.
What a dumb move. He’s a 6th man at best and has a history of bad behavior.
He led the league in catch and shoot 3s last year. That’s more than a 6th man
I wouldn’t say it’s a dumb move but I do think he’s a 6th man. He’s more of a Jamal Crawford type of guy instead of a starting Point Guard.
This is a great deal for both sides, imo. Porter has had a couple issues, but he really seems to have turned a corner over the last year+. Hearing him on media day, he sounds much more mature and in tune with himself in a positive way. Hopefully he continues with that mindset. He has loads of talent and already seems to have good relationships with the whole squad. Good for KPJ.
Steal!
Great move by the rockets. They are still a few pieces away but I really like what they are doing. In the unlikely scenario that they get Victor in the draft, they could be a playin team by next season
Yeah Im not big on his commitment to balling. I would have traded him. I like TyTy much better at PG. The contract does allow them to move him though.
Porter got talent. And with his size, if he can hold down the Point. He could have a nice career. I just don’t get a sense of urgency from him. It’s always about other things. Instead of just balling out. Then get rewarded for it.
It’s a good call from both Porter Jr & Hou. Team gets to have a very good offensive player who may or may not blow up this year on a reduced rate(£15.6 is a good price for a 16-4-6 guard, which is better than a lot of these players on much higher contracts and he should get better). While keeping the security of, if his attitude flares up again they’re only on the hook for the one year or two if they agree the first extension in 23.
For Porter he’s guaranteed to get paid if he keeps his head down and do his job.
£15.6 would be a better deal for Porter and still a good deal for the Rockets.
*$15.86. Good catch!
But pulling out of my economic debate earlier today. Given how strong the US economy is and growing RN, by the time he gets extended his current $ agreement would be higher than the £pound/sterling value!!!!