As we relayed in a Front Office article earlier on Thursday, Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. is an intriguing trade candidate ahead of the February 5 deadline. Just six months after essentially being treated as a salary dump by Denver, Porter has rebuilt his value with an outstanding first season in Brooklyn — he’s averaging career highs of 25.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 3.3 APG through 26 games, with an excellent .496/.410/812 shooting line.
“At worst he’s returned to neutral value, which is a major development,” one veteran NBA executive recently told Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Brooklyn has been taking incoming calls on Porter but the team doesn’t appear to be actively trying to move him, Fischer writes. Several people around the league familiar with the Nets’ thinking believe they will be aggressive in trying to accelerate their rebuild next offseason if they land a top pick in the 2026 draft, according to Fischer, who suggests the team might have a fairly high asking price to consider trading Porter mid-season.
Confirming a recent report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, Fischer says the Bucks are one team monitoring Porter’s situation as they look for roster upgrades around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Assuming he plays well in his return from a torn Achilles tendon, which is expected to occur in January, Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is another player the Bucks could pursue in the coming weeks, multiple sources tell Fischer.
Although the Pistons have not yet called the Nets about Porter, they’re considered a potential suitor for the 27-year-old, Fischer reports. Detroit is my favorite theoretical landing spot for Porter, as he would provide a secondary scorer and top-tier shooter alongside Cade Cunningham. As Fischer writes, the Pistons aren’t expected to make an all-in move for Anthony Davis or Lauri Markkanen, but Porter makes less money than either of those players and likely wouldn’t cost as much to acquire as Markkanen.
The Warriors have considered making a run at Porter, sources tell Fischer, and head coach Steve Kerr praised the 6’10” forward after Monday’s game in Brooklyn. But a two-team deal between the Nets and Warriors appears unlikely right now, per Fischer, as Brooklyn doesn’t seem high on Jonathan Kuminga, whose outgoing salary would be necessary for matching purposes.
While it’s unclear if they’ll be buyers or sellers and they aren’t expected to pick a direction until closer to the deadline, the Bulls are another possible suitor for Porter, according to Fischer, who says Chicago was in serious talks to acquire the former lottery pick from Denver last year for Zach LaVine. Obviously the trade didn’t occur and LaVine is no longer a Bull, but it shows Chicago’s front office has an affinity for Porter.
The Hawks and Sixers are two other teams who expressed interest in Porter when he was still a Nugget, but neither club seems to be targeting him this season, Fischer adds.
Kings should be
Porter’s not going anywhere.
Agreed. I don’t see the point in trading him. They have plenty of assets already and they need to stay over the floor. They could be in position to take a step forward next year if they hit on their top pick.
Porter is having a good year. Unfortunately its in his 7th year. The back is still a concern. He’s playing better than Kuzma. It’s not going to help Bucks.
If you can get him for Kuminga. Definitely helps Warriors. Kuminga isn’t even playing. So definitely an upgrade. His shooting is built for Warriors. Still need a rim protector.
I’m with Al. If they can get him for Kuminga it would be a great upgrade. Fits with the Nets timeline better. Salary dump Buddy for Cam Thomas and outgoing picks? IDK
No one wants that trash can Kuminga.
Porter is taking shots from Nets horde or awful late 1st round picks. He getting traded.
Yeah we know lol. You hate everyone….
I like Hart, OG, Bridges….just to name a few from just one team. Want me to go in?
But if you don’t play defense….yea.
I don’t trust this guy!!!
You should. He’s a solid # 2 that’s always been a 3rd or even 4th option. When healthy, he’s excellent. It’s a solid fit for the warriors. He’s a winner and knows what it takes.
Have you ever heard the guy speak? He’s a low IQ guy. Nuggets were happy to get him out of there. Clubhouse cancer who’s brother was busted for gambling. Balling out on one of the worst teams in the inferior conference, mid on a champion, he simply rode Joker’s greatness to a chip. No thanks.
Kuminga is STILL the team leader in rebounds a game. Fire Kerr instead of making personnel changes, they will easily win.
You can’t be serious are you. Kuminga and Porter are not even close. I get he may not be a good fit for GS. But they are not even on the same level.
Fire the GM for putting together a terrible team around Curry.
LMAO. Porter is the Nets team leader and having an AS season, which is no big surprise. He’s always been great. He’s not at all “low IQ” or whatever made up ding you dropped. Jordi loves him and he’s definitely been a big reason for the rapid development of the Nets young players from what was called the league’s worst roster back in September to a team that was 7-4 in December with the best defensive rating in the league. The Nets will almost certainly extend Porter. Windfall trade.
Of course the Nets have no interest in Kuminga. I doubt anyone really would now that Kerr can’t even find a role for him in his 13 man rotation. 😆
If you watch the Nets, you know how Porter makes impossible shots from beyond the 3-pt line.
That’s why I say a rim protector. He watches their back. He’s putting up 25 a gm. And he is built for that system. He’s an upgrade lol. Going to take more than Kuminga.
The “system” as it stands is “Draymond plays C and I fill the rotation with as many shooting guards as possible”. That’s Kerr’s new “system” that sucks major doodoo.
Unless its for Kuminga, Podz, Buddy and GP2, not interested.
nets would want atleast 1 1st round pick in a trade. He is not a bad player to have but the problem with him is he always get hurt.
He’s looking good this yr. But yeah that’s a chance you have to take. All I’m saying is he fits better than Kuminga. And has a chip on his shoulder now.
Warriors should trade for him as long as it doesn’t cost more than Kuminga and a 1st round pick next year. Warrior problem once again not having enough medium size contracts to match pay.
False. Don’t let facts get in the way of a perfectly ridiculous narrative. Porter has been an iron man 3+ seasons going. Few have played more games than MPJ going back to the 22-23 season. And he has played through a banged up shoulder in the playoffs.
He has had back issues since day one. Didn’t play his first year He was soft in Denver. And didn’t really step up till his last yrs there……….
“The wait continues for Michael Porter Jr.
Michael Porter Jr. didn’t play his first NBA year (2018-19) because he was recovering from his second back surgery, a microdiscectomy on his L3-L4 spinal disks, performed after an initial injury in high school and subsequent complications at Missouri, with the Denver Nuggets redshirting him to ensure a full recovery from issues that once threatened his career, including severe pain and nerve problems like “foot drop” that led to multiple surgeries and bracing.”
He could be as healthy as he will ever be today. For that I give him credit. I believe he is a good fit in GS.
Davey that’s been the system. We gave been thru this already.I’m not a big fan of KpJ. He is long and a shooter. He is having his best offensive yr. He is a young vet. He is a huge upgrade over Kuminga. Right now. That’s a big thing. Nets are looking to future. Definitely worth looking into. Is all I am saying.
Davey it has to be Kuminga. Only question is how much more. A young talent fits Nets better. Imo I agree with arc89 plus a #1 pick ck. You know Kuminga is your best trade asset. He is being shopped.
Honestly GSW should trade Jimmy, Dray, Kuminga, Podz, Moody, and Buddy just to re-do all the money so its all high IQ players who can understand how to play with Steph. If Steph can put the scrub roster in 2022 on his back, imagine if he had fully healthy guys in their primes and not washed up Klay and Dray.
Nice to dream Davey. It ain’t happening. Jimmy is good for Steph. Look what did last yr. Getting a 20 pt scorer helps dude. Not easy to find. Kerr system works better and better for Steph. When defenses can’t key on Steph. It’s a good move imo. I still would add a rim protector. In playoffs it can’t be all offense.
Al, its incredibly easy to get a 20 point guy. What are you talking about?
Dear Joe Lacob,
Fire Kerr and completely redesign the team around Steph while you still can!
Yeah get one ….
Coby White is available, and AK is stupid enough to add Kuminga to a roster of other 1-way players.
Hah, Kuminga is not even playing tonight with no Curry or Butler.
Pistons would be good too. Except imo they need another big also. God help them if Duren goes down.
See I don’t mind the back up bigs for Detroit. Beef Stew and BBall Paul Reed aren’t a long term solution but as far as back ups go, they are OK.
Another shooter would do them the world of good. Duncan Robinson doesn’t equal what they had in Sleazy Beazley and Hardaway Jr.
Detroit is as deep as anyone at center. Beef Stew is good enough to start and Reed is good enough to be a primary backup. Both undersized but plenty tough
Those aren’t centers. I get you can go small today longer. In the playoffs you need size. And more than just one center. You will burn out Duren.
Pistons have ivey coming back. They have Holland still growing as a player.
Porter’s performance on a contending team in Denver for the last 3 years is a much better predictor than what he’s done in 2 months in New Jersey, where he gets to chuck under no pressure, with lots of garbage time.
Cam Johnson thrived in New Jersey for 2.5 years for the same reasons. In Denver this year, we see that Johnson offers much less in more competitive conditions.
I’d argue the same applies with Trey Murphy lll in New Orleans over the last 1.5 seasons. No NBA player has chucked against worse opposition, grossly inflating his stats.
^ exactly right. Stay away from these pretenders. Get us a real star. Even Sabonis is better.
He was the 4th option in Denver lol
When did Brooklyn become part of the Garden State?
It’s all the same dumpster fire.
It’s not the same at all. That’s a very superficial analysis. Porter is much better than Cam Johnson. But this is what you get from ppl who don’t follow the Nets.
1st, Porter is scoring 50% more than Cam Johnson did and that’s because he’s more efficient, he’s got the total inside/outside bag and his usage is higher because of it. He’s also grabbing twice the amount of boards. And even taking more shots he’s still more efficient than Johnson and with that comes more gravity as he gets doubled a lot and that results in a lot of opportunities.
Many ppl have used the lazy narrative that he was ‘just the 4th option’ in Denver, as if he should be blamed for being on a team with multiple HoFers. This is what happens when good players get opportunities to show their wares. The trade was never about talent or not living up to his contract; it was all about cap space.
Porter Jr to Atlanta for Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard
Wilson and Highsmith are waived before
Kristaps Porziņģis, Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard to Brooklyn for Michael Porter Jr, Nic Claxton and N’Faly Dante
Brooklyn flips Kristaps