Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. is drawing interest from the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Golden State Warriors, according to multiple reports.
Warriors Unlikely To Trade For Nets Wing
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported New Year’s Day that Brooklyn has been taking incoming calls on Porter, but the team doesn’t appear to be actively trying to move him.
“Sources say that Golden State, which helped inspire this whole notebook, has indeed had some internal discussions about whether to pursue Michael Porter,” he wrote.
“The Pistons, I’m told, have not called on Porter — yet. If they do, Brooklyn could rationalize such a move as only expanding upon its initial return for Johnson with more future assets. At the very least, sources say, it’s a situation to keep tabs on.”
The Warriors, however, are not expected to strike a trade deal with the Nets for Porter before the Feb. 5 deadline, per Fischer, considering Brooklyn doesn’t seem interested in Jonathan Kuminga.
For matching salary purposes, the Dubs would have to include a player like Kuminga in such a trade deal.
In September, Kuminga finally agreed to a two-year, $46.8 million deal with the Warriors to end a prolonged contract stalemate. As part of the deal, he waived his inherent no-trade clause.
The club option in the second year is designed for either Golden State or another team if and when Kuminga is traded before the deadline this season.
Pistons Could Acquire Michael Porter Jr.
While Detroit has yet to inquire about Porter, the club is a potential suitor for the 27-year-old, Fischer noted. The Pistons are off to their best start in years, sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 25-9 record.
Since the Pistons aren’t expected to make an all-in move to acquire either Anthony Davis or Lauri Markkanen, they could be the perfect fit for Porter, who makes less money than both veteran stars.
Per Spotrac, Porter is in the fourth season of the five-year, $179.29 million rookie-scale extension he signed as a member of the Denver Nuggets in September 2021.
He’s earning $38.33 million this season and is slated to make $40.8 million in 2026-27.
If not Golden State or Detroit, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Bucks are one team monitoring Porter’s situation as they look for roster upgrades around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In addition, another team could be in the mix to add Porter, per Fischer.
“The Bulls, sources say, were in serious discussions with the Nuggets last season about swapping Zach LaVine for Porter. That actually seemed to be the preferred path for several voices in Denver’s front office,” he wrote.
The Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers had also expressed interest in Porter when he was still a Nugget, but Fischer added that neither team seems high on him this campaign.
