Scotto’s Latest: MPJ, Mann, Wade, Mamukelashvili, Dick

While veteran forward Michael Porter Jr. will be eligible to sign a contract extension with the Nets this offseason, teams around the NBA are also keeping an eye on him as a potential candidate, writes Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Porter will turn 28 this month and is entering his ninth year in the NBA, whereas the rebuilding Nets added five rookies to their roster a year ago and are poised to draft another with the No. 6 overall pick on June 23. As Scotto explains, executives across the league aren’t convinced that Porter fits with Brooklyn’s timeline beyond his current contract, which will pay him $40.8MM in 2026/27 before expiring next summer.

According to Scotto, the Warriors were among the teams with interest in Porter at the deadline and considered giving up a first-round pick for him. That deal likely would’ve involved Jonathan Kuminga, who was sent to Atlanta as part of a package for Kristaps Porzingis instead. Based on its cap situation, Golden State isn’t as well positioned this offseason to make another run at Porter unless the team is prepared to move off Jimmy Butler‘s sizable expiring contract as he recovers from an ACL tear.

Scotto adds that Nets guard Terance Mann was involved in those pre-deadline trade discussions, but his involvement in a potential Porter deal would’ve necessitated a third team, which threw a wrench into those negotiations. Mann, who still has two years and $31.5MM left on his own contract, is well-liked in Brooklyn and is considered a positive locker room presence, says Scotto.

Here are a few more highlights from Scotto’s latest round-up of notes and rumors:

• Cavaliers forward Dean Wade, who will be an unrestricted free agent, is expected to draw interest from multiple teams who will have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception available, Scotto reports, pointing out that it could be difficult for a cap-strapped Cleveland team to make a competitive offer. The Cavs were the only club to operate over the second tax apron this past season and won’t have a ton of salary coming off their books if they re-sign James Harden.
• Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili is expected to decline his minimum-salary player option and command a significant raise in unrestricted free agency. According to Scotto, Mamukelashvili has a chance to earn a contract worth a significant chunk of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which has teams wondering whether Toronto will be able to retain him. The Raptors only have Mamukelashvili’s Non-Bird rights, and while they could use their MLE to re-sign him, they have luxury tax concerns to consider.
• Rival executives view Gradey Dick as the Raptors‘ most obvious trade candidate if they look to trim some salary and create more breathing room below the tax line. Dick, who is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract, is coming off a down year but was a regular starter and averaged 14.4 points per game in 2024/25, so the 22-year-old could be viewed as a bounce-back candidate, Scotto notes.
• In case you missed it, we also passed along reporting from Scotto on the Pelicans’ efforts to acquire a lottery pick and the Hornets and Kings discussing Domantas Sabonis.