The Brooklyn Nets may not be done reshaping things after their superteam era fell apart, and Michael Porter Jr. looks like one of the next names on the move.
Brooklyn is still sorting through the wreckage of the failed Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden experiment, and the roster around Porter Jr. reflects that reality. The Nets don’t have a superstar to anchor the next phase, and they also don’t have a blue-chip young player ready to take over. Instead, they’re sitting in a holding pattern, trying to figure out what comes next.
Porter Jr. has settled into his role in Brooklyn, but the expectation around the league is that his stay may be short. Anthony Slater said on the ‘Third Apron’ podcast that the Nets are likely to deal him before the deadline if they can’t get an extension done.
“I think his Nets tenure might be coming to a close shortly,” reported Anthony Slater on the ‘Third Apron’ podcast. “It just seems like they’re apart in contract negotiations, and I don’t see them holding him past the trade deadline without an extension.
I’ve seen some Nets fans posit that they could hold him past the trade deadline and let him go into unrestricted free agency; if they want to keep him, they still have some of the most cap space in the league. But I think that’s a little too risky.
So, I think they’ll probably move him at the trade deadline, and that’s what I have been hearing, dating back a little bit. I think they are viewing him more as a trade asset as opposed to a long-term piece.
And I think the way these negotiations have played out so far has underscored that.”
That fits the way Brooklyn is built right now. The Nets aren’t positioned to chase immediate wins, and their rotation is heavy on young, untested players such as Mikel Brown Jr., Noah Clowney, and Ben Saraf, among others. With the upcoming season expected to function as a developmental year, a 28-year-old swingman in his prime doesn’t really line up with that timeline.
Porter Jr. also arrives with real trade value. He’s coming off his best season, posting averages of 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field in 2025-26. That kind of production makes him attractive, especially with the final year of a five-year, $179.3 million contract hanging over the situation.
The Golden State Warriors are one possible landing spot. Jimmy Butler is reportedly making fast progress in his recovery, but there’s still uncertainty about when he’ll be back and whether he’ll look the same once he returns. If Golden State decides it needs another push, Porter Jr. could be a logical target if the team is willing to dip into its limited assets.
The Detroit Pistons are another team to watch. After losing Tobias Harris this summer and wrecking their relationship with Jalen Duren, they could be in the market for Porter Jr.’s expiring deal as a way to add scoring without giving up flexibility.
Where Porter Jr. lands is still up in the air, but he’s clearly a name to keep an eye on as the season moves along. Unless the picture changes in a major way, Brooklyn appears ready to treat him as a trade chip. The same could end up being true for Julius Randle, who might also bring back a few picks if the Nets decide to move him.
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The timing matters because Brooklyns point guard picture is starting to come into focus, with Mikel Brown Jr. expected to handle the starting job. That leaves the backup spot open for competition, and Saraf is in the mix against Nolan Traor for the chance to back up the lead guard. Saraf did get more run late last season and showed some progress, which gives the Nets a reason to keep watching closely as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]