The future of Michael Porter Jr. at the Brooklyn Nets looks uncertain before the season even gets underway, not that the Golden State Warriors should take much notice after Steve Kerr warned them against a move for the former Denver Nuggets champion prior to February’s mid-season deadline.
According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Porter appears much more like a trade candidate than a long-term part of the Nets future as he enters the season on a $40.8 million expiring contract.
Warriors can ignore Michael Porter trade update
There’s been no contract extension between Porter and the Nets to this point, suggesting he could become on the biggest names on the trade market again after rumors and speculation flew around the 28-year-old during a career-best season last year.
“I think his future with the Nets, or his Nets tenure, might be coming to a close shortly. That’s kind of my read on it,” Slater said. “I just think that they’re apart in contract negotiations, and I don’t see them holding him past the trade deadline without an extension," Lewis said on the Third Apron podcast.
Porter wound up averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his first year with the Nets, shooting 46.3% from the floor and 36.3% from 3-point range. There is a concern over how much that was just empty calories on a bad Nets team, and how much value he’d bring to a team like the Warriors when you consider how much they’d have to give up.
Even if Porter does become truly available which would be no great surprise, Kerr’s return as head coach on a new two-year deal means the Warriors are unlikely to enter the mix. According to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor in July, Kerr pushed against a Porter trade which leaves him as an unlikely target moving forward.
Steve Kerr doesn’t believe in Michael Porter Jr. as Warriors style player
Kerr’s hesitation over Porter is interesting given he could be used in a similar way as Klay Thompson once was -- a smooth shooting offensive weapon capable of catching fire. At the same time, prime Thompson was also one of the league’s elite perimeter defenders and Porter certainly can’t lay claim to that.
Perhaps Kerr just looks straight through Porter’s increased play-making and shot-creation last season as a product of a bad Nets team, and that with Golden State he may return to the reputation he built as somewhat of a ball-stopper with the Nuggets.
The Warriors are likely to be one of the more active teams before the trade deadline, just don’t expect there to be interest in Porter despite rumors over the past 12 months.
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