Michael Porter Jr. Rumors

Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown Named Players Of Week

December 29th, 2025 at 2:43pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and Celtics forward Jaylen Brown have been named the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, according to the NBA (Twitter links).

Leonard led the Clippers to three wins during the week of December 22-28 while posting averages of 41.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals per contest. The star forward erupted for a career-high 55 points against the Pistons on Sunday.

It’s Leonard’s fourth Player of the Week award as a Clipper and the 10th of his NBA career, but it’s the first time he has earned the honor since the 2023/24 season.

Kevin Durant (Rockets), Keyonte George (Jazz), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) and Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) were the other Western Conference nominees.

The Celtics, meanwhile, went 2-1 last week with Brown averaging 32.7 points on 55.9 percent shooting from the field while also grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game.

Boston’s star wing has scored at least 30 points in all nine games he has played this month and has now been named the East’s Player of the Week twice in December — he also claimed the award on Dec. 8. Brown and Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson have traded the award back and forth in recent weeks, with no other Eastern Conference player winning it since Nov. 24.

LaMelo Ball (Hornets), Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Cade Cunningham (Pistons), Josh Giddey (Bulls), Michael Porter Jr. (Nets) and Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks) were all nominated in the East.

Nets Notes: Thomas, Winning Streak, Bench, Demin

December 28th, 2025 at 1:23pm CST by Rory Maher

Nets guard Cam Thomas admitted a couple days ago that there would likely be an adjustment period when he returned to action on Saturday, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. After a terrible 0-7 start to the season with Thomas in the lineup, Brooklyn had been playing better in the 24-year-old’s absence, going 9-12 over the past several weeks, including the November 5 win over Indiana in which Thomas was limited to just six minutes after straining his left hamstring.

“Every team adjusts when a certain player goes out,” said Thomas. “We’ll figure it out. Just go out there and play ball. It’s not rocket science. We just go out there, figure out who’s out there together and figure out how to play amongst each other.

“It’s been a while. … Obviously, it’s going to be a learning curve for a few games, but we’ll figure it out quick. We’re pros, we’ll figure it out. So, just going to make it back on the court and play, figure it out and just try to keep stacking wins.”

However, Thomas showed zero signs of rust — or trouble fitting in — as he lit up the Timberwolves for 30 points in 20 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s win at Minnesota, Lewis writes in another story. The impending free agent shot 9-of-15 from the floor and was 9-for-9 at three throw line while chipping in four assists (against zero turnovers) and three rebounds.

Thomas, who was a game-high plus-27, said he was happy to be playing again and to help the team get a win, Lewis notes. Head coach Jordi Fernandez praised Thomas’ performance.

“[I liked] his mindset. He let the game come to him. He assisted, zero turnovers being a simple play every time. And I’m pretty sure the potential assists were high because he made the right play over and over and over,” Fernandez said. “Sometimes you cannot control if those are going to be assists, but you just play the right way. And going to the free throw line, and as efficient as it was, it was just really impressive.

“We have to be careful with the amount of minutes we play him. And knowing that he had a short amount of minutes and using them efficiently, efficiently for the team. He just played, once again, the right play every time: whether it was to score against the line or pass waters. So, very clean game, very connected to his teammates, talking to them, telling them what to do. That’s it.”

We have more from Brooklyn:

The Nets have now won a season-high three straight games and seven of their past 10 after picking up a road victory against a Minnesota team that had gone 10-3 in its last 13 contests, according to Lewis. The Nets surprisingly have the league’s top-ranked defense in December, Lewis notes. “When you’ve got Mike [Michael Porter Jr.] playing the level he’s playing out right now, throwing a Cam Thomas in the fold, and you have us defending the way that we are, we’re extremely [tough],” Nic Claxton said. “We’re going to be an extremely tough team to beat every night. We’re gonna compete, because those are two extremely gifted scores. And we’ve got shooters around. We’ve got me, Day’Ron [Sharpe] at the rim. So we’ve got a lot of different options, a lot to build off of.”
While Thomas was the top performer, Brooklyn’s bench also received solid contributions from first-round picks Nolan Traore, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf as well as fifth-year center Sharpe in outscoring Minnesota’s second unit 62-33, as C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News relays.
Fernandez has been pleased with the lottery pick Egor Demin‘s progress so far this season, but he’s constantly pushing the 19-year-old to keep improving, per Holmes. “I think he’s more comfortable,” Fernandez said. “I think he always played like he belongs, and that’s been great. I remember since that preseason game in Toronto. He played and showed right away why we were so high on him and how he handled himself. It’s not just about the shot making but also seeing the floor and his ability to get deflections and rebounds and all those things. We’ve seen how much better he’s gotten from Day 1… We still want to see more and better. And that goes not just for him, but everybody else on the roster.”

Nets Notes: Porter, Trade Possibilities, Demin, Traore

December 24th, 2025 at 9:56pm CST by Arthur Hill

Michael Porter Jr. might be too good to keep on the roster if the Nets intend to tank, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Porter, who has been an offensive force since he was acquired in an offseason trade with Denver, poured in 28 points in Tuesday’s win at Philadelphia.

It was the latest in a string of impressive performances by Porter, but it’s not what Brooklyn needs if it intends to maximize the value of its first-round pick as owner Joe Tsai suggested early in the season. Sources told Lewis that philosophy hasn’t changed, so Porter may have to be dealt or shut down at some point.

Porter has a long medical history that includes herniated discs, three back surgeries, a damaged peroneal nerve and “foot drop,” which requires him to wear a brace while playing. He’s under contract for one more season at $40.8MM, and Lewis suggests he might have more value to a contender than he would as a long-term piece for the Nets to build around.

Lewis cites the Pistons and Bucks as potential trade partners. Detroit can offer a first-round pick, Tobias Harris‘ $26.6MM expiring contract and another piece such as Caris LeVert, Ron Holland or Jaden Ivey, while Milwaukee could trade its first-rounder in 2031 or 2032, along with Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis.

A source tells Lewis that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is determined to turn around the season after a slow start and is “not interested in rebuilding in any form or fashion.” Lewis proposes a deal sending Porter and Cam Thomas to L.A. in exchange for an unprotected 2032 first-rounder, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

There’s more from Brooklyn:

Rookie guard Egor Demin continues to respond well to challenges from coach Jordi Fernandez, Lewis states in a separate story. Demin turned in one of his best games with 20 points, five assists and two rebounds in Tuesday’s win, and he ranks second among rookies by hitting at least four three-pointers in six games, answering pre-draft concerns about his outside shot. “Egor is a kid that cares so much about doing the right thing the whole time. Obviously it stands out, his size for his position and ability to shoot the ball and share the ball,” Fernandez said. “He does a great job finding the three-point line for his teammates and shooting the three himself, but he’s done a much better job being aggressive getting into the paint. When he’s finished aggressive at the rim, he’s done a great job.”
In another piece, Lewis examines how the Nets were able to turn around a defense that was headed toward being the worst in NBA history.
Nolan Traore may get more NBA opportunities after scoring eight points in Sunday’s win over Toronto, per Howie Kussoy of The New York Post. The Nets have brought the 19-year-old French point guard along slowly, playing him mostly in the G League so far. “He did a great job overall. (It) looked like all the minutes he’s played (on) Long Island right now are paying off,” Fernandez said. “And now he came here with a lot of confidence, and this is what it’s all about. Minutes are the best coach to develop you. And he took advantage of those minutes (on) Long Island, and now he’s taking advantage of his minutes here, and he was a big part of us winning this game.”

Siegel’s Latest: Turner, Bucks, Pacers, Nets, Cavs, Alvarado

December 19th, 2025 at 6:19pm CST by Rory Maher

Multiple reporters have indicated that the Bucks are looking to add win-now help in the coming weeks despite an 11-17 start to the season. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints has heard similarly, writing that people around the NBA are wondering if Myles Turner could be a trade candidate after signing a four-year, $108.8MM contract with Milwaukee over the summer.

As Siegel explains, the Bucks have a limited number of assets to work with, and Turner would likely draw “significant interest” if he’s made available due to his ability to stretch the floor on offense and protect the rim on defense. The same was true of last season, when Turner was on an expiring contract as a member of the Pacers, per Siegel.

It’s worth pointing out that Turner ($25.3MM) is one of only two Bucks making between $14MM and 54MM in 2025/26, with the other being Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM). According to Siegel, a trade involving combo forward Kuzma, who is having a modest bounce-back season after a disappointing ’24/25, remains more likely than a potential move including Turner.

While it’s unclear how much interest Kuzma would generate on his own, league sources tell Siegel the Bucks are hopeful they’d be able to deal the 30-year-old because there is currently a dearth of wings available on the market and Kuzma has one additional year left on his contract, which will pay him $20.4MM in ’26/27.

Here are a few more highlights from Siegel’s latest trade rumor round-up:

The Pacers have shown a willingness to discuss Bennedict Mathurin in trades ahead of his 2026 restricted free agency, according to Siegel, who reports that Indiana appears reluctant to make a lucrative long-term investment in the fourth-year wing. While Siegel calls Mathurin the Pacers’ top asset ahead of the February 5 deadline, he also hears that forwards Jarace Walker and Obi Toppin have popped up in early trade talks as Indiana looks for frontcourt upgrades.
Forward Michael Porter Jr. and guard Cam Thomas are a couple of names worth monitoring for the Nets, Seigel writes. Porter, who is thriving as Brooklyn’s top offensive option, is expected to draw interest from contenders. Thomas, meanwhile has the ability to veto trades and there doesn’t seem to be much interest in the 24-year-old, who continues to be sidelined with a left hamstring strain that cost him most of last season. Still, Siegel speculates that Brooklyn might be able to receive a second-round pick or two for the high-scoring guard, even if he’s only a rental — Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Although the 15-13 Cavaliers have been one of the most disappointing teams to open the season, Cleveland has been plagued by injuries in ’25/26 and has thus far shown no willingness to engage in discussions involving Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen, both of whom have drawn interest from multiple teams, sources tell Siegel. The Cavs have been frustrated by their play and there’s a rising sense of urgency around the team after falling into the play-in picture, but they’re optimistic they’ll be able to turn their season through a combination internal improvements and getting players back from injuries, Siegel adds.
The Hawks are among the teams who have registered interest in fifth-year guard Jose Alvarado, who appears to be the Pelicans player most likely to be moved ahead of the deadline, says Siegel. Indiana and New York have also checked in with New Orleans about Alvarado, Siegel notes.

Nets Notes: Wolf, Porter Jr., Hauser, Highsmith

December 18th, 2025 at 5:34pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Nets big man Danny Wolf lasted until the No. 27 pick in the June draft and he’ll use that as motivation the rest of his career, he told Brian Lewis of the New York Post (subscription required).

“Obviously, I’d be faulted to say I don’t have a chip on my shoulder to not only prove others wrong and prove teams or guys picked ahead of me wrong and just prove myself right, that I know what I can become,” Wolf said. “I’m going to have that chip on my shoulder as long as I’m in this league. … So I use it [for] motivation, but all I’m going to do is work, as I have done.”

The biggest concern regarding Wolf coming out of Michigan was his ability to defend at the NBA level. He has shown thus far that he can more than hold his own at that end, according to Lewis, who notes that Wolf’s defensive field goal percentage (40%) ranks first among rookies who have defended at least 30 shots.

“There were a lot of questions from teams and front offices as to who I could guard. I took that as a chip on my shoulder to prove that I can more than guard in this league,” Wolf said. “But it’s a work in progress, and I need to continue to get quicker and stronger.”

Here’s more on the Nets:

Michael Porter Jr. is posting career-high numbers and the New York Daily News’ C.J. Holmes uses more advanced statistic measures to lay out Porter’s All-Star case. However, the fact that Porter is playing for a rebuilding club certainly hinders his chances. Holmes notes the Nets are 6-3 when Porter scores 30 points or more. “I mean, just look at what we look like when he’s on the court versus when he’s not on the court,” center Nic Claxton said. “He does so much. He creates so many opportunities for himself, for other teammates. His averages are off the charts, so he definitely should be an All-Star.” Porter is averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Former Michigan State forward Joey Hauser, brother of the Celtics’ Sam Hauser, is working as a video assistant with the Nets this season, according to NetsDaily (Twitter link). Joey played for the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, last season. He also briefly had a two-way contract with Utah.
Haywood Highsmith, who has yet to make his Nets debut due to a knee injury, was on the court during pregame warmups on Thursday working out with the coaching staff, but he has yet to be cleared for contact, Lewis tweets. Highsmith was acquired from the Heat in mid-August.

Nets Notes: 45-Point Win, Hetzel, Demin, Powell, Porter, Rookies

December 15th, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Arthur Hill

The Nets didn’t look anything like a tanking team in Sunday’s 127-82 win over Milwaukee, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. The 45-point margin tied the record for the largest victory in franchise history, and it provided the first career win for assistant Steve Hetzel, who was filling in because head coach Jordi Fernandez was ill.

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun. Just watching how well we played as a team. Normally, (Michael Porter Jr.) has been carrying us offensively, and then you see how spread out the points are. … I don’t think anybody that stepped on the court played poorly,” Hetzel said. “It was a great feeling.”

It was the fourth win in six games for Brooklyn, which has recovered from an 0-7 start to move to within three games of a play-in spot. Four of the team’s five first-round picks played significant roles in the game, and Milwaukee was held scoreless for the final 7:04.

“You hold any team to no points for six minutes, that’s elite,” Noah Clowney said. “This is the NBA. You don’t do that often to anybody. … That’s probably the best form of hoops when everybody eats and everybody’s playing well, everybody’s making shots. It’s just a good camaraderie.”

There’s more from Brooklyn:

Rookies Egor Demin and Drake Powell both responded with quality performances after being criticized by Fernandez following Friday’s loss to Dallas, Lewis states in a separate story. Demin had 17 points in 25 minutes, while Powell came off the bench for 13 points in 23 minutes. “(Fernandez) challenged Egor, he challenged Drake, and they both responded beautifully, with an edge,” Hetzel said. “It’s another step in their progression. They took a big step in having a bad game and then responding. And that’s what the NBA’s all about. You play 82 of them. You got to be quick to forget about the last one, move on and play better, which they both did.”
Porter has tended to carry the scoring load in his first season with Brooklyn, but Fernandez is concerned that isn’t the best approach for his young team, Lewis adds in another piece. While the veteran forward had 34 points on Friday, the Nets’ other players couldn’t respond when Dallas started sending multiple defenders at him in the fourth quarter. “We kept looking at Mike instead of using him and others taking or making the shot,” Fernandez said. “You can control if you take a good shot, you cannot control if it goes in.”
Hetzel serves as the Brooklyn’s Summer League coach, so he has extensive experience dealing with the team’s rookies, per C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News (subscription required). Before Sunday’s game, he offered his thoughts on each of them and the progress they’ve made since the draft.

Nets Notes: Porter Jr., Trade Talk, Traore, 20-Game Outlook

December 11th, 2025 at 10:48pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Michael Porter Jr. was traded by a former champion to a rebuilding club. The former Nuggets forward doesn’t mind playing for the Nets. In fact, Porter would prefer to stick around Brooklyn rather than be on the move again, he told Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

“Yeah, I love it here,” Porter said. “I love the staff, I love the energy of practice. Everyone gets along and has great vibes and great energy around the facility. So whatever team wants and appreciates what I bring to the table, then that’s where I want to be. And I feel like they do here.

“I don’t know their long-term plans; that’s above my pay grade,” he added. “But any good, successful team, you need a mix of young, developing guys with unlimited energy, and you need some older guys that have been there and done that and can hand it down and teach the young guys. So any team that thinks they’re going to win at a high level with only young players, it doesn’t really happen. But like I said, if they want me here, I’d love to be here.”

Porter Jr. has one season remaining on his contract after this one — he’s owed a guaranteed $40.8MM salary for 2026/27. He’s averaging a career-high 25.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Here’s more on the Nets:

As the NBA’s trade season approaches, head coach Jordi Fernandez hopes his players can block out the noise and worry about winning games and improving their skills. “It’s that part of the year and we all have to deal with it. It’s not the most enjoyable part of the year, but we love our guys,” Fernandez told Dan Martin of the New York Post. “We’re gonna keep focusing on working and getting better and competing. We cannot control anything on the outside, even though we know things may happen. … We’re not the ones thinking or talking [about trades]. We want work, we want accountability [and] we want competitiveness. That’s what we focus on.”
The Nets recalled this year’s No. 19 pick from their G League affiliate in Long Island on Thursday and Nolan Traore could jump right into the rotation. Traore posted averages of 18.8 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 43.1% from three-point range in 13 G League outings. “His superpower is speed,” Fernandez said of Traore, per C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News. “He’s been shooting the ball very well and confidently, which I loved. He’s been trying to be more vocal, that’s what you want your point guards to be… And then the assist-to-turnover [ratio]. I think he struggled a little bit with the turnovers at times and how he reacted to those turnovers, which turnovers will happen, and I don’t care as long as you move on to the next play, and he’s had impressive numbers, assist-to-turnover ratio over his past three, four games, so, very happy with where he’s at.”
The Nets have won three of their last four games heading into their road matchup against Dallas on Friday. “We’re 23 games in and we’re looking at the next 20 games,’’ Fernández said, per Martin. “Can we sustain [it]? Can we get better? Then we look at the next 20. The process is the most important thing for us and the development of the group, not just one player.”

Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray Named Players Of The Week

December 8th, 2025 at 4:54pm CST by Rory Maher

Celtics wing Jaylen Brown and Nuggets guard Jamal Murray have been named the NBA’s Players of the Week, the league announced on Monday (via Twitter).

Brown won for the Eastern Conference, while Murray claimed the award in the Western Conference.

Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, led Boston to an unblemished 3-0 record in games he played from December 1-7. He sat out the Dec. 4 contest at Washington, which the Celtics won by 45 points. The 29-year-old averaged 34.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.0 steal on .538/.471/.889 shooting in three appearances last week (37.7 minutes per game).

A Georgia native who played one season of college ball for California, Brown is well on his way to making his fifth All-Star game in 2025/26. He’s averaging career highs of 29.1 PPG and 4.9 APG while also contributing 6.2 RPG and 1.1 SPG through 23 contests (33.7 MPG).

Murray, meanwhile, helped guide Denver to a 3-1 record last week. The 28-year-old Canadian averaged 29.8 PPG, 7.5 APG, 4.5 RPG and 1.3 SPG on .595/.621/.929 shooting in four appearances (33.8 MPG).

Murray is off to a fantastic start to the season himself and appears well-positioned to make his first All-Star appearance. Through 22 games (35.0 MPG), he’s averaging 25.0 PPG, 6.8 APG and 4.5 RPG — all career highs — with an elite shooting line of .506/.447/.898.

According to the NBA, De’Aaron Fox (Spurs), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams (Thunder), and Murray’s teammate Nikola Jokic were the other nominees in the West (Twitter link). Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Jalen Johnson (Hawks), Tyrese Maxey (Sixers), Michael Porter Jr. (Nets), and Brown’s teammate Derrick White were nominated in the East.

Nets Notes: Porter, Claxton, Thomas, Saraf

December 7th, 2025 at 1:43pm CST by Rory Maher

Michael Porter Jr.‘s strong play with the Nets may be disrupting the team’s plan to land a top pick in the 2026 draft and could lead to him being on the trade block again before the February 5 deadline, suggests Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

As Lewis writes, Brooklyn is now 3-0 in Porter’s last three appearances and 6-7 overall in the games he’s played since Cam Thomas went down with a strained left hamstring. After a one-game absence, Porter returned to action on Saturday and was the best player on the court in the lopsided win over New Orleans, recording 35 points (on 14-of-23 shooting), nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. He was plus-31 in 33 minutes.

“He makes his teammates’ lives better. He doesn’t play in a selfish way,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez. “The shots he creates — he’s able to make every shot possible — but when he spaces the floor properly, and when he cuts with pace, and he’s constantly moving, and then he rebounds the ball … that’s just very good for everybody else.

“So, all those things are important, and they don’t go unnoticed. Him talking to all his teammates and the young guys, that shows maturity and adjusting to a new role. Having a smile on his face, all that positive energy is contagious. He’s been a big part of this team coming together.”

Porter, a 6’10” forward who was acquired in an offseason trade with Denver, is averaging 25.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists — all career highs — on .496/.392/.818 shooting through 19 games (32.8 minutes per contest).

We have more from Brooklyn:

Center Nic Claxton, who has developed impressive chemistry with Porter, notched his second triple-double (14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) of the season on Saturday, Lewis writes for The New York Post. The 26-year-old big man is dishing out a career-high 4.5 assists per night in 2025/26. “The ball was really moving. Guys were making shots. It was one of those feel-good games for everybody. And definitely these past three games, we’ve been pretty solid,” Claxton said. “We have a few lapses here and there, but we definitely have a lot that we can build off of.”
Within the same story, Lewis notes that Fernandez was asked about reintegrating Thomas back into the lineup. The fifth-year shooting guard will be out at least two more weeks, but has begun on-court work. The Nets have been spreading the ball around, clashing with Thomas’ iso-heavy style of scoring, Lewis observes. “That’s a good question,” Fernandez said. “… For the most part, I’m very happy with the whole group. And now when he comes back, it’s going to be on me to figure it out how we introduce him into the group, and thinking that the most important thing, it’s always the group. And then from there [ensure] you’re willing to do whatever it takes to help the group and obviously improve yourself. That’s how this works: Team success will bring your own success as well.”
A stint in the G League helped rookie guard Ben Saraf, per C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News. The 19-year-old struggled to open the season, but has played better in the five games since he was recalled from the team’s NBAGL affiliate in Long Island. “He went and played with Long Island and played like an NBA player,” Fernandez said. “And once we had an opportunity to play him, he played again and played great.” Turnovers have been an issue for Saraf, but Fernandez has been pleased with the Israeli guard’s desire to learn and improve, Holmes adds.

Atlantic Notes: Towns, MPJ, Thomas, Quickley, Barrett

December 2nd, 2025 at 9:09pm CST by Rory Maher

Big man Karl-Anthony Towns recently made it very clear he hopes to keep playing for the Knicks for the foreseeable future, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.

“Hell yeah, hell yeah. I want to stay here,” Towns said. “Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue.”

As Bondy writes, Towns was eligible for a two-year extension before the season began, but there was “no traction” on a new deal. The five-time All-Star is under contract through at least 2026/27, with a $61MM player option for ’27/28, so there wasn’t much urgency to extend Towns from New York’s perspective.

That may change next summer, however, since Towns will again be extension-eligible and could be a free agent in 2027 if he declines that option. The 30-year-old forward/center says he has a strong relationship with the team’s front office, Bondy adds.

“Me, (team president Leon Rose) and (Senior VP of basketball operations Gersson Rosas) and everyone, we’re great,” Towns said. “I’ll go have lunch with them right now. We’re good.”

Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division:

After missing two games with lower back tightness, Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. returned to action on Monday and produced one of his best games of the season, finishing with 35 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 36 minutes during the victory over Charlotte, notes C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News. As Lucas Kaplan of NetDaily.com writes, Porter has thrived in head coach Jordi Fernandez‘s offensive system, putting up career-best statistics as Brooklyn’s top scoring option. “Well, I think Jordi — he’s a genius of a coach,” Porter said. “You know, we’re a young team, we’re going to keep growing, but he’s a genius in terms of the schemes that he puts out, especially offensively for me. The way teams are guarding me, really just face-guarding me and trying not to let me catch the ball, the different creative ways that Jordi has our team running plays to help me get touches and get looks off is really next level. He’s making it so easy for me to play my game. So I really have to thank just Jordi and the offensive coaching staff for how I’ve been able to produce.”
Nets guard Cam Thomas, who is three-plus weeks removed from straining his left hamstring, will undergo an MRI in the next few days to determine how the injury is healing, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post relays. “He’s getting an MRI at the end of the week, and then when we get the reads [on it], then we’ll give you guys an update. We’ll let you know when that happens,” Fernandez said. Thomas was limited to just 25 games last season after straining the same hamstring multiple times.
Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett have improved multiple aspects of their games since they were traded from the Knicks to the Raptors nearly two years ago, writes Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News. Both players have gotten stronger and are in better shape, and Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic also pointed to specific basketball improvements. “Immanuel improved his defense on the ball dramatically. He’s one of the best defensive players that we have now on the ball. Also very disruptive with his hands,” Rajakovic said. “RJ’s shot selection is a little bit different. He’s getting much more to the rim, he’s doing catch-and-shoot 3s, he’s scoring more off cuts. Those two guys — they’re investing a lot in their individual and personal development and that’s affecting our whole team.”
Barrett, who is currently out with a knee sprain, still isn’t doing on-court work yet but his knee is getting better and the Raptors forward is considered day-to-day, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca.