Citing a “trusted league source,” John Hollinger of The Athletic reported over the weekend that Michael Porter Jr. is a “lock” to be traded by the Nets ahead of the deadline. Other NBA insiders haven’t been so bold, however.
In his latest Substack story, Marc Stein acknowledges some people around the league think the Nets will take a “sell high” approach to Porter’s breakout season and move him by February 5. But Stein continues to hear “push-back” about Brooklyn’s desire to trade Porter prior to the offseason, and says he’s not sure what the Nets will do.
Speaking to Justin Shackil on Yes Network (Twitter video link), Michael Scotto of HoopsHype also expressed some doubt about the possibility of Porter being involved in an in-season trade.
“Right now, a lot of teams across the league — more contending teams — have called, just to get a sense of where he’s at,” Scotto said. “But one thing I will tell you and the viewers as well, Justin, is that the Nets, looking ahead towards next season, they’re going to want to take a step forward. Michael Porter Jr. could very well be a part of that with the way he’s playing. And he’s still young, in his prime.
“So I would temper expectations on a trade, at least at this point. But certainly, he’s gained more interest around the league and I don’t think anybody has helped his value more than him given the All-Star production and efficiency he has shown this season so far.”
The Warriors and Bucks are among the teams that have inquired about Porter since the start of January, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, but the Nets haven’t made it known they actually want to move the sharpshooting forward. Brooklyn’s starting point in talks for Porter is a “valuable first-round pick,” according Siegel, who says even if that asking price is met it doesn’t necessarily mean the team will trade him.
Scotto also discussed Nic Claxton, whose descending contract holds some appeal to rival teams. Scotto reported that the Pacers and Warriors are among the teams who have expressed interest in the seventh-year center, but also said the Nets consider the 26-year-old part of their future.
Siegel has heard similarly, writing that the Nets value Claxton and would want a minimum of first-round pick and “players of value” in return who could help expedite the team’s rebuild.
Any offer has to start with 2 unprotected 1sts for Brooklyn to give up Porter Jr.
What? Denver attached a first to get rid of him.
Nuggets did it so they could sign 3 players
Yeah, because those 3 players are a better fit for the team. Not sure how that changes attaching a first. Nets aren’t getting 2 firsts is my point, that’s more than a bit rich.
Yesterdays price isn’t today’s price. 26 PPG on 40% from 3 with 7 boards a game doesn’t grow on trees. Unprotected 1st seems a little steep but I don’t see how you get him for less than 2 firsts at this point.
Porter’s production is mostly irrelevant. Teams trade for contracts, not players.
Does he have some value to a team that doesn’t have multiple years of the 2nd apron breathing down its neck? Sure. In reality there isn’t much functional difference between him and trading for Zach LaVine or Trae Young.
True, but teams are aware that he had bad playoffs with Denver, especially last season, going from 18.2 ppg in the reg to 9.1 in the playoffs (I’m aware that injuries played a part)_
yea, and now he’s on track to be an allstar…
I was always a big MPJ guy, wanted the Sixers to draft him. But let’s be serious bro, he’s taking all the shots on a terrible Nets team. He’s a good shooter, he’s not Cam Thomas, but he isn’t going to team X Y or Z and being “the guy” he’s going to be 3rd or 4th fiddle on most contenders. Same role as before, higher salary than before.
Denver attached a first to duck the tax / trade for a cheaper & similar level of player.
link to yardbarker.com
“Early signals from the Warriors are that they do not want to trade more than one first-round pick for Porter, especially since such a move would involve trading Kuminga and Moses Moody,” Siegel wrote. “Porter appears to be at the top of the Warriors’ list right now if they can land him for Kuminga, Moody, Buddy Hield, and a first-round pick.”
This is just the beginning. Negotiations will continue if they want to get this done. This is a fair offer imo. Just make that a 2030 pick. When it should be more valuable…….. Nets move Porter. They can tank for a better pick in a deep lottery.
Since the Kings want Kuminga, maybe they could be persuaded to trade a FRP to offload the players they don’t want to the Nets in a 3 team trade.
Kings should concentrate on the #1 pick in draft.
AJ Dybantsa will be better than Kuminga. Could be next Big Thing.
Thanks to the lottery “system”, it doesn’t work that way (see the Mavs getting Flagg with the best record of all lottery teams).
See that shot how technically sound it is. A bucket.. good looks easy peasy. He’s shooting 40% 3pt.
84% FT, 26 pts a game, 7.4 reb, 3.4 ast.
Having his best year. Also playing more aggressive. Getting his own shot. Never did that in Denver. Warriors are not getting a better player. Plus a chip on his shoulder. Gotta do it.
A playoffs rotation of Steph Jimmy MPJ Dray Post is just so nasty I want it more than anything. Flip Buddy for Brook and GSW is going up the ladder.
Lopez is washed – 1 or 2 good games from him doesn’t change that fact.
Yeah but he is:
1. Still better than Buddy at every aspect of the game
2. Can at least throw a body in the paint, unlike GP2 and Podz
3. Kerr would only be playing him 10 MPG anyway, its simply for spacing reasons aka death to smallball
As far as your #1:
Buddy has a higher ppg (7.2 to 6.4), fg% (41.5% to 36.1), apg (1.4 to 0.9), TS% (.541 to .511) and PER (10.9 to 9.9), while barely less rpg (2.5 to 2.7) and MORE reb/36 (5.2 to 5.0) and even slightly better in VORP (0.0 to -0.1) in 16.7 min/gm to Brook’s 17.0
This trade would be a waste – we’d be better off trading for almost any other big that can rebound and block shots.
Name any of those bigs who are actually available though. The main issue with GSW is size: there are literally 10(!) undersized (under 6’5″) guards on the roster if you include 2W players. These 10 guys get absolutely destroyed on defense if Kerr plays one of them at the 3/SF, which he does all the time. Lopez just standing in the key helps GSW 1000000x more than Buddy standing around doing absolutely nothing defensively, that’s my main point.
“we’d be better off trading for almost any other big that can rebound and block shots.” I agree overall with this, but why Buddy-Brook is pushed on here is because of the perfect 1-1 salary match. You should go find another Buddy-“for a big” 1-1 and lets all hear you out.
MPJ is just looking good on a bad team. If he goes to a contender again he will flounder and those teams tend to not have ‘valuable’ first round picks.
Shooting, rebounding. Putting the ball on the floor. Has nothing to do with bad teams. He has upped his game finally. watch a few Net games. Looking good.
His shooting the 3 transcends any type of team he is on. He is 6’10” and is shooting the 3 at 39.7% on 3.7 out of 9.4 attempts. You can say he wont avg 25 PPG on GSW, but all he needs to do is shoot 40% from 3 and GSW are going places.
He’s bever been a physical guy. In Bklyn he takes more contact and is a good rebounder for a 3. He’s taking people off the dribble. Never did that before. He’s upped his game. Seriously
Flounder like he did w/ denver ??
No team should ever have both MPJ and Cam Thomas on its roster. If you can get value on any one of them – you gotta do it.
Porter is an offense-first player. Thomas is a shameless chucker. There’s a difference.
Yeah the Nets should absolutely sell high on MPJ, his value probably wont ever be this high again
And we all remember when Mikal Bridges averaged 26ppg with the Nets and then never again. You never know…
Its so crazy how many FRP were needed to acquire Bridges. It’s Mikal Bridges. “mid” is literally in his name. Kidding, he is borderline elite. But he might be one of the last guys to ever bring in 5+ FRP in a trade. That’s crazy.
I don’t think any player will get 5+ FRP going back in a trade ever again. Well, maybe Steph Curry. Or Wemby lol. Giannis probably brings back at most 4, but I could see 3 for him too.
I guess maybe if an instantly-elite type of rookie would bring back 5+, but like, only if the roster he’s on is already stacked, like Harden was on OKC. Funnily enough, Harden going from the Rockets to the Nets bought back 3 FRP unprotected, 1 protected and 4 pick swaps, 8 total. Desmond Bane, Paul George too bought back tons of picks.
Indiana should go after Porter and Claxton
If Peyton Watson can keep it up then thr Porter trade doesn’t look that awful
KCP, Clarke and Konchar for a veteran C and something
Or
Morant, Jackson Jr and KCP for ….
Either trade Porter Jr, Claxton, Mann and Wilson for draft picks and expiring contracts
Or
Trade Highsmith and Wilson for a veteran PG and PF. Compete and draft well
Why would Brooklynn want to trade Claxton? Only 26 years old. On a reasonable contract. Talented athletic big men are difficult to come by.