The Brooklyn Nets reportedly haven’t made veteran forward Michael Porter Jr. available in trade discussions just yet, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“I know everybody thinks that Porter’s available, that would be news to me,” Windhorst reported during Friday’s episode of NBA Today. “I have not heard that he is available. If he is available, I’ll wait for Shams [Charania] to tell me because I haven’t heard that.”
NBA insider Marc Stein also previously reported that he’s been “hearing pushback about the Nets’ willingness to part ways with Porter” at the Feb. 5 deadline.
Nets Acquired Michael Porter Jr. From Denver
Porter was selected 14th overall by the Nuggets in the 2018 NBA draft out of Missouri. He spent six seasons with Denver before the team traded him and a 2032 first-round draft pick to Brooklyn for Cameron Johnson over the summer.
Through 38 appearances (all starts) with the Nets this season, Porter is averaging career highs of 25.6 points and 3.2 assists to go with 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 33.1 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-10 wing is also shooting 48.2% from the field and 39.8% from beyond the arc.
Porter scored a season-high 38 points in a 107-103 loss at Denver on Thursday night. He finished 13-for-29 (46.4%) shooting from the floor and 7-of-15 (46.7%) from deep.
Per Spotrac, Porter is currently in the fourth year of a five-year, $172.55 million max rookie contract. He’s earning $38.33 million this season and is slated to make $40.8 million in 2026-27.
Brooklyn Eyeing Giannis Antetokounmpo
Multiple sources informed Brian Lewis of The New York Post that Brooklyn intends to be competitive next season, meaning now could be the perfect time for the Nets to make a big move.
“This is their moment,” one league source told Lewis. “Really depends on if they decide that their aimless tank is over. They could sure make the best offer.”
Lewis’ source assumed Porter would be involved in an outgoing package for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the Nets can make arguably the best offer.
However, an assistant GM also thought Porter would remain in Brooklyn, indicating that Nic Claxton and Terance Mann would be included in the deal for salary-matching purposes.
“The Nets make a lot of sense for him,” one Eastern Conference assistant GM told Lewis. “They have some good future picks. [They] could, in theory, trade five future [first-round] picks, keep this year’s pick, shut him down for the year? Tank?“
During the latest edition of The Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst added that the Nets have numerous draft picks and a couple of role players to work with to entice Milwaukee.
“Brooklyn has 10 tradable firsts, Michael Porter Jr., and 11 tradable firsts as of draft night,” Windhorst said. “… I think Brooklyn will seriously consider making an offer.”
By the sounds of it, the Nets will only consider moving Porter if it means adding Giannis.
