Michael Porter Jr. already spent last season proving he can carry a bigger load, and now the Brooklyn Nets may be setting him up for a different kind of season entirely.
Brooklyn’s offseason has changed the shape of the offense, most notably with the trade for Julius Randle. That matters for Porter.
After a year in which he was asked to create for himself far more often than he had in Denver, the Nets may not need that same version of him as much going forward. And if his usage dips, his 3-point volume could climb.
That would be a natural next step for a player who already leaned heavily on the outside shot. Last season, more than half of Porter’s attempts came from 3-point range.
It was just the third time in his career that his 3-point attempt rate cleared 50%, but it may have been the most important one yet. For a player trying to extend his prime and keep raising his ceiling, that kind of shot profile makes plenty of sense.
Porter’s Brooklyn breakout showed he could handle the spotlight as the No. 1 option. He scored, created, and answered the questions that came with being the guy after spending much of his career taking passes from Nikola Jokic in Denver. The evidence is there: he can do more than just spot up.
Still, the Nets may be best served by letting him do what he does best from even farther out. Jordi Fernandez wants plenty of shots launched from deep, and Porter fits that approach cleanly. With Randle in the mix and Brooklyn’s young guards also able to feed him, Porter could spend more time moving off the ball and getting cleaner looks from outside.
That setup could be ideal for everyone involved. Porter enters the final year of his contract wanting to back up his career season and put up numbers for a winning team. If his role shifts and his shot diet tilts even more toward 3s, the Nets may end up with the best version of him yet.
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What stood out most was the message running through every part of the footage: this roster is being built around youth development, character and a defined team identity. Nets executives and players kept returning to the same themes of leadership, grit and culture, a sign that the front office wants this group to become something more cohesive than a simple collection of talent. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Face A Michael Porter Jr. Decision That Could Get Complicated
Michael Porter Jr. is heading into the final year of his contract with the Nets, and the lack of an extension this summer has already put some early focus on how Brooklyn views his long-term place in the organization. The fit is not in question after a strong season from Porter, but the timing is, especially for a team that has to weigh present production against future flexibility.
Sean Marks has said the front office will discuss Porters future, which leaves the door open to several possibilities as the season unfolds. An Eastern Conference executive has already suggested there could be midseason trade interest, and that is where things could get tricky for Brooklyn, with Porters value, his next contract and the Nets bigger plans all set to be part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]