Michael Porter Jr.’s future in Brooklyn is already a talking point, and the Nets may be facing a familiar kind of decision: keep a productive veteran around, or protect the flexibility of a rebuilding roster.
Sameer Kumar of Nets on SI raised the possibility that Brooklyn could be better off moving Porter instead of handing him a hefty extension. Porter is heading into the final year of his current contract, and his next deal could land near $40 million per year. That price tag is the crux of the issue after a strong first season with the Nets.
Porter, 28, gave Brooklyn real production, but Kumar’s view is that the franchise should stay committed to the bigger picture - future assets and cap room - rather than locking itself into a major long-term commitment. That fits the way the Nets have operated under general manager Sean Marks, with long-term flexibility treated as a priority. As the season gets closer, Porter is clearly a name to watch.
In Phoenix, Khaman Maluach is leaning on one of the league’s best rim protectors for a little extra guidance. After another strong Summer League showing, the Suns center said he reached out to Rudy Gobert, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, for advice on how to handle the grind.
“I reached out to Rudy,” Maluach said, via ClutchPoints. “I asked him how he keeps up with his body, what he does throughout the summer and just really learn from him.”
Maluach has backed up the buzz in Las Vegas, putting up 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds while continuing to grow on both ends of the floor. He also made clear that the mental side matters just as much to him, saying basketball is “almost 90 percent mental.”
Elsewhere, Magic on SI took an early swing at projecting what Orlando’s rotation could look like when the 2026-27 season arrives. With training camp still months away, it’s a reminder that some teams are already thinking well beyond the immediate calendar.
In Other News...
Paolo Banchero Just Sent A Clear Message About Orlandos Next Step
Paolo Banchero spent part of the offseason putting the Magics recent playoff frustrations into plain terms, and the message was less about reflection than about what comes next. Orlando has been close enough to taste a deeper run, only to run into the same wall in the postseason, and Banchero said the group has carried that disappointment into its summer work as it looks to move beyond the first round.
The forward also pointed to the teams increased focus and urgency heading into the new season, noting that the workouts with teammates have already started to shape the mindset. For a young roster that believes it is ready to take the next step, the challenge is no longer proving it belongs in the playoffs. It is turning that belief into a run that lasts longer than the last one did. [Read more 🡒]
Orlando Magic Dreamers Get Big Boost For Central Florida Kids
The Orlando Magic Dreamers got a meaningful lift for their youth wheelchair basketball program this week, with new funding set to help cover the basics that can make the sport hard to sustain for families. The team received support from Dicks Sporting Goods and Orange County, money that will go toward travel, equipment, uniforms and basketballs as the Dreamers continue building a path for Central Florida kids to stay in the game.
For a program built around access as much as competition, the timing matters. Athletic wheelchairs can be a major expense on their own, and every bit of support helps lower the barrier for players who want to participate but might not otherwise be able to afford it. The goal is simple enough, even if the challenge is not: make wheelchair basketball more affordable and more accessible for the next wave of kids who want to roll onto the court. [Read more 🡒]
Paolo Banchero Knows What This Magic Season Has To Prove
The Magic are heading into 2026 with much of the same core, but a new voice on the sideline in Sean Sweeney and a familiar burden on Paolo Banchero. For Banchero, the message is less about rebranding the roster than resetting the standard. He has talked about approaching the season with a fresh mindset and about the pressure he puts on himself to keep improving, which fits a team that believes continuity can still lead somewhere better if its best player keeps climbing.
Bancheros individual production has already made him the center of Orlandos plans, but the next step is bigger than numbers on a page. The questions around his game now live in the margins, in the kind of efficiency debates and postseason expectations that follow stars once theyve proven they can carry a load. He has helped get the Magic to the playoffs, but the season ahead is really about whether he can turn that into something more, especially after injuries interrupted his last two years and left the team still searching for a cleaner, more complete version of itself. [Read more 🡒]