The Pelicans may have just gotten a clearer path to Michael Porter Jr., and it starts with how the Brooklyn Nets apparently see him.
On a recent episode of the Third Apron Podcast, Erik Slater - the host of Locked On Nets and a Nets reporter for ClutchPoints - said Brooklyn views Porter Jr. more as a “trade asset” than a “long-term piece.” Slater added that Porter Jr.’s time with the black and white could end soon.
That matters in New Orleans because Porter Jr. has already been floating around as a possible fit for the Pelicans. I had written last week that the hype around him as a trade target needed to cool off, mostly because Brooklyn is trying to compete for a playoff spot next season and a deal before the start of the year felt unlikely.
That still looks like the less likely path. A trade-deadline swing remains the most realistic route if the Pelicans ever land him. But the window for something to happen before the 2026-27 season now looks a lot wider than it did before Slater’s comments.
And from a basketball standpoint, it’s easy to see why Porter Jr. keeps coming up in New Orleans conversations.
He gives you size at 6-foot-10, elite three-point volume, and real work on the glass. Porter Jr. averaged 24.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 36.3 percent from three on over nine attempts per game. For a Pelicans team that finished in the bottom five in threes made and had issues finishing possessions with defensive rebounds, that kind of production would be a real jolt.
The catch is on the other end. The Pelicans are trying to build a defensive-first identity under Jamahl Mosley, and Porter Jr. doesn’t exactly erase those concerns.
Mosley has gotten productive play from bigger wings with defensive limitations before, including Porter Jr., but New Orleans already has a lot of players he’ll need to squeeze every bit of defense out of. Bringing in another clear defensive liability before the season might complicate that job.
There’s also the timing issue. Mosley has spent the summer trying to build culture and establish connections with his new group. Dropping a major addition into the locker room now could disrupt that process.
So yes, if the price is right, Joe Dumars should absolutely consider it. But for now, the smartest play still looks like patience. If Porter Jr. is going to end up in New Orleans, the trade deadline still feels like the cleanest opening, especially with so many questions still hanging over the 2026-27 Pelicans.
In Other News...
Bryce McGowens May Be Solving A Pelicans Rotation Need
Bryce McGowens entered the offseason with a clear job description, and it sounds like he spent the summer trying to make himself harder to take off the floor. After earning a standard contract with New Orleans last season following a two-way deal, he focused on defense and added strength, reportedly putting on 8 pounds as he worked to round out the parts of his game that can keep him in a coachs trust.
The appeal is obvious for a Pelicans group looking for reliable rotation answers. McGowens already showed he can contribute on the offensive end, averaging 8.1 points while shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range in 21 minutes a game, and if the defensive growth carries over, he could give Jamahl Mosley a more complete option when the bench is sorted out. The question now is whether that offseason work turns him from a useful piece into someone who plays every night. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Fans Wont Get A Full First Look In Preseason Opener
The preseason opener in Tulsa will give the Pelicans an early look at Oklahoma City, but not the version of the Thunder most fans are waiting to see. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren are among the players sitting out as the team works through a planned back-to-back preseason setup, leaving a thinner lineup on the floor for the first game of October.
For New Orleans, it still counts as useful early tape against the reigning standard in the West, even if the matchup comes with some built-in caveats. The Thunder are also easing young players Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber back from injuries, so this first step of camp and preseason is more about timing and evaluation than full-on competition, with the more complete picture still waiting just down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Get Their First Real Test Of A Defense First Reset
Six days into training camp under new head coach Jamahl Mosley, the Pelicans are still in the early stages of turning a defense-first reset into something tangible. The work has centered on building Mosleys defensive system, with a healthy roster giving New Orleans a full group to sort through before the regular season arrives. The next step is a useful one: a preseason opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a matchup that should offer a cleaner read on where the team stands than any practice ever could.
For the Pelicans, the preseason is less about the result and more about the process, with all players expected to see the floor across four exhibition games. That should give Mosley a chance to evaluate how quickly the group is absorbing his approach and how consistently it can carry over from camp to game action. Against a strong opponent right away, New Orleans will get its first real test of whether this reset is taking hold or still has a long way to go. [Read more 🡒]