Michael Porter Jr.’s place in Brooklyn is suddenly one of the more interesting questions hanging over the Nets as they head toward the season.
Porter is in the final year of his current contract, and a new deal could push close to $40 million per year. That kind of number is exactly why Sameer Kumar of Nets on SI raised the possibility that Brooklyn may be better off moving him instead of locking him into a pricey extension.
The logic is pretty straightforward from the Nets’ side. Porter had a productive first season in Brooklyn, but Kumar pointed out that a rebuilding team should keep leaning into future assets and cap flexibility rather than making a major financial commitment to a veteran forward. That fits with the way Brooklyn has operated under general manager Sean Marks, with long-term flexibility remaining a clear priority.
Elsewhere in the league, Suns center Khaman Maluach is already looking for help from one of the best defensive big men in the game. After another strong Summer League showing, the former lottery pick said he reached out to Rudy Gobert for advice as he works through his development.
“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 interest with production in Las Vegas. He’s averaging 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds while continuing to show growth on both ends of the floor. He also stressed the mental side of the game, saying basketball is “almost 90 percent mental.”
And in Orlando, Magic on SI took an early swing at projecting what the Magic’s rotation could look like for the 2026-27 season, even though training camp is still months away.
In Other News...
Jamaree Bouyea Might Be The Suns Rotation Piece Nobody Saw Coming
Jamaree Bouyea spent the 2025-26 season turning himself into a real part of the Suns back end, appearing in 46 games and logging a career-high 14 minutes a night. Phoenix liked enough of what it saw to bring him back on a two-year deal worth less than $4 million, a modest commitment that says as much about his value as it does about where the Suns are trying to find cheap, useful minutes.
The intrigue is whether Bouyea can slide into the defensive lane opened up by the departures of Royce ONeale and Grayson Allen, giving Phoenix another option to throw at bigger wings and forwards. His length and willingness to take on those matchups make him an interesting fit, but the offensive side remains the question, especially with the Suns needing to sort out how much of Allens shooting they can realistically replace. [Read more 🡒]
Koa Peat Embraces Devin Bookers Role In His Suns Journey
Koa Peat has already started to carve out his place in Phoenix by leaning into the opportunity in front of him. After a strong Summer League showing, the rookie said he is eager to learn from Devin Booker as he gets ready for the 2026-27 NBA season, with the Suns franchise player offering the kind of example young players around the league try to latch onto early.
Selected 30th in the draft, Peat knows his path to a roster role will depend on more than talent alone. For now, he is focused on becoming the kind of teammate who can help Booker and, in turn, sharpen his own game by absorbing as much as he can from one of the Suns most important voices. [Read more 🡒]
Khaman Maluach Is Giving Suns Fans Real Reason To Believe
Khaman Maluach did enough in four Summer League games to turn a promising debut into something closer to a statement. The Suns big man averaged 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds, posted a double-double in every outing before being rested, and flashed the kind of rim protection and floor spacing that can change how a front line looks. For a team looking for reasons to feel better about its long-term outlook, that kind of start matters.
The buzz around Maluach has only grown because the production came with broader attention from national observers, who saw a player already showing real two-way utility. The next question is whether that performance gets the formal recognition it seems to deserve, with All-Summer League selections still pending and the Suns waiting to see just how high this early momentum can carry their newest interior piece. [Read more 🡒]