Michael Porter Jr. put together the kind of season that should have had him in the All-Star conversation. Instead, the Brooklyn Nets’ top option came up short, and Draymond Green says that moment changed everything.
On the "Draymond Green Show," Green said Porter’s All-Star snub knocked him off course for the rest of the year. According to Green, Porter felt the team wasn’t winning, believed Brooklyn wasn’t headed for the playoffs, and stopped going to the gym.
Green also thinks the fallout may have been costly beyond the box score.
"There are consequences to every action, and I think that’s one of the consequences for Michael Porter Jr.," Green said.
Porter’s numbers before February backed up the case for a bigger spotlight. He averaged 25 points while shooting 40.1% from three, and in December he was scorching the nets at 47.5% from deep. He had seven games that month with at least five made threes, including four straight to open December.
That production has not stopped the speculation about where he could fit next. Several analysts have floated mock trades involving Porter, including Yossi Gozlan’s proposal that would send him to the Orlando Magic for Franz Wagner.
Gozlan pointed to the teams’ tricky cap outlook in the years ahead, along with the idea of Moritz Wagner reuniting with his brother Franz. Orlando, meanwhile, is already tying up major money in Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Wagner.
Brooklyn also has the kind of draft capital that can keep it active in the trade market. The Nets hold plenty of first- and second-round picks, and they were in the mix for Jaylen Brown before backing out and keeping those assets.
Porter’s dip after the snub may also help explain why the Nets still haven’t extended him. The 6-foot-10 forward is reportedly looking for $40 million per year, according to Sean Deveney, which matches what he is set to make next season.
He has been eligible for an extension since July 6, with a four-year, $234 million deal on the table - a $58.5 million average annual salary. That’s superstar money, and Porter has spent his career as more of a role player.
Brooklyn’s top scorer may have missed out on the All-Star nod last season, but he still has a path to one next year. And with Randle and Brown leading the team’s new additions, the Nets will try to stack wins behind him.
In Other News...
Nets Camp Puts Big Pressure On Two First Round Rookies
Training camp is bringing immediate attention to Brooklyns two first-round additions, with Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson arriving as the newest pieces in a roster that is still taking shape under Jordi Fernandez. Brown, taken by the Nets in the 2026 NBA Draft, comes in as a raw guard with clear scoring upside, while Jefferson profiles as a developmental frontcourt option whose path may depend on how quickly he settles into the NBA game.
For Brooklyn, the appeal is obvious, but so is the pressure. Brown could find himself in the mix for the starting point guard job, while Jefferson is looking at a potential role as a backup big man, and neither player is being handed anything as camp opens. With minutes up for grabs and competition already in place, the Nets will learn early how ready their two first-rounders are to turn promise into something more immediate. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Camp Battle Could Decide Which Young Forwards Actually Matter
The forward rotation is one of the more interesting pieces of Brooklyns preseason picture, with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. set to open as the starters and the real fight coming behind them. That leaves a crowded group of Josh Minott, Danny Wolf, Noah Clowney and Joshua Jefferson competing for the backup minutes, a setup that gives the Nets both options and questions as camp unfolds.
Minott arrives with a new two-year contract, while Clowney is entering the final year of his rookie deal, adding a little extra weight to a battle that is about more than just filling out the bench. Coach Jordi Fernndez will sort through which of these forwards best fits his approach, and for a team trying to define its identity, the answer could help determine which young players actually become part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Are Betting On One Risk Before Their Next Big Move
Sean Marks continues to frame the Nets' direction around patience, flexibility and internal growth, with the front office keeping its options open as the roster takes shape. The general manager pointed to the development of young players such as Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., while also stressing the value of cost-effective contracts as Brooklyn tries to keep its books clean for whatever comes next.
The appeal of that approach is obvious for a team still trying to build toward its next major move, but it also asks the Nets to trust the process in the present. For now, there are no confirmed trades or signings attached to Marks' comments, only a clear picture of an organization betting that young talent and financial flexibility can set up the real opportunity when it arrives. [Read more 🡒]