Team context and opportunity are the two most important factors for individual success for the grand majority of NBA players. Those factors are also the primary determinants of whether a contract is viewed as being team- or player-friendly.
Consider, for example, former NBA big man Richaun Holmes. After being selected 37th overall in the 2015 draft, Holmes spent the first four years of his career providing energy and athleticism off the bench in Philadelphia and Phoenix. At 6'9" and 235 pounds, Holmes was undersized for a center, and seemed unlikely to ever have a full-time starting role.
Holmes' career trajectory changed when he signed with Sacramento in the 2019 offseason. Playing on a two-year, $10MM contract, Holmes averaged 13.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game over the next two seasons as the Kings' starting center, shooting 64.1% from the floor and 79.2% from the foul line.
Holmes parlayed his newfound success into a four-year, $47MM contract in the summer of 2021. He played quite well over the first 20 games of the 2021/22 campaign, but then got hurt and became embroiled in a child custody battle that resulted in him missing time for personal reasons (he eventually prevailed in court). Around the same time, the Kings traded Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis.
The addition of Sabonis significantly reduced Holmes' importance in Sacramento, making him look both unnecessary and overpriced. He never really regained a foothold in the rotation, and spent the past few years bouncing around the league as a veteran backup. Now 32, Holmes signed with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos over the summer after he was unable to find an attractive NBA opportunity.
What does Richaun Holmes have to do with Michael Porter Jr.? That's a fair question.
The Warriors have to do something. It’s almost at a point where it has to be just about anything they can come up with.
JK, Moody, Buddy Hield, first round pick? If that’s all they can find, I would pull the trigger and do it.
I feel like MPJ is worth more at this point, he’s playing so great. Jk is value is worth almost nothing anymore, neither is Hield. So basically it’s a first round pick and a flyer on Kuminga if he can figure it all out. Might have to add another first if they have another to trade.
Nets aren’t doing the Dubs a favor. And the overwhelming likelihood is that no one is going to blow the Nets away. It doesn’t make any real sense to deal Porter anyway. The Nets want to compete next season. They need MPJ.
would Houston be willing to give back Brooklyn’s ‘27 first swap to land Porter? I wonder if that’s enough for the Nets or be too much for the Rockets…
GSW should get rid of Podz by any means necessary, he does not fit the system, at all. He plays Russell Westbrook-style but with half his talent. Get this guy off my team!!!
I understand that mpj is playing well atm, and the nets are in a good position with him going forward but..I’m not gonna get hyped up about mpj yet until I see how helps his team in the playoffs. I remember watching some good moments when he was in Denver, then injuries happened and he lost his rhythm..hopefully he can stay healthy and help this young nets team thrive going forward..that’s all I’ll say for now