With the NBA trade deadline just two weeks away, the rumor mill is heating up - and one name that keeps surfacing is Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr.
Brooklyn, sitting at 12-30, is deep in the lottery zone and far removed from playoff contention. That reality has put the Nets in the thick of trade speculation, and Porter Jr., in particular, has become a focal point.
After arriving in Brooklyn via an offseason trade with Denver, Porter Jr. has taken on a new role - the go-to guy. For the first time in his career, he’s been asked to carry the scoring load, and statistically, he’s delivered.
Porter is averaging career-highs across the board - 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. That kind of production is going to draw attention, even on a struggling team. But while the numbers pop, the market for him isn’t as hot as you might expect.
Two teams that had been linked to Porter - the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers - appear to be backing off. According to league sources, Golden State has cooled on the idea of acquiring Porter in the aftermath of Jimmy Butler’s injury, which may have shifted their priorities. As for the Lakers, there’s reportedly little appetite in their front office to pursue a deal for the 27-year-old forward.
And here’s the rub: while Porter is putting up big numbers, his contract is a major hurdle. He’s still owed two more years on the five-year, $179.2 million deal he signed back in 2021 with the Nuggets. That kind of financial commitment is giving teams pause - especially for a player with a history of back issues and questions about long-term durability.
So despite the eye-catching stats and the fact that Porter has shown he can be a primary option, the likelihood of a trade seems to be fading. Teams are wary of the price tag, and unless Brooklyn lowers its asking price or takes on salary in return, Porter may be staying put past the deadline.
For now, the Nets have a high-usage scorer putting up career numbers - but on a team going nowhere fast. The question is whether they’ll hold onto him as a building block or continue to explore deals that could reshape their future. As the deadline nears, Porter’s name will stay in the conversation - but for now, the interest appears to be more smoke than fire.