Nets star Michael Porter Jr. is a trade deadline lock. Brooklyn aims to capitalize on his career year, fielding offers from desperate contenders.
As the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline draws closer and closer, Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks' phone continues to ring, nonstop.
In the midst of what should be 2023 NBA champion Michael Porter Jr.'s first career All-Star campaign, Brooklyn is in perfect position to capitalize on his growing value as one of the best pure shot-makers in the entire league.
Averaging career-bests across the board with 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists on a fantastic 62.8% true shooting percentage through 30 games with the franchise, prospective suitors have only grown more infatuated with the ex-Denver Nuggets star.
Porter Jr. has performed so well that his time in Brooklyn appears to be running out, and a recent report from The Athletic's John Hollinger all but confirmed that the Nets will be shipping out the scoring savant prior to the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The only factor yet to be determined is which team the Nets will aim to receive a sizable haul from in a future transaction.
"With one trusted league source telling me that Michael Porter Jr. is a lock to move by the deadline so the Nets can sell high on his career year, it makes sense for the Nets to figure out who will be the centerpiece of their franchise a year from now," Hollinger wrote Saturday.
"Remember, Brooklyn owes a pick swap to (the Houston Rockets) in 2027 and thus has no incentive to tank next season," Hollinger continued.
"They need some players."
Since the very beginning of his breakout debut season with Brooklyn, the expectation was for the Nets' front office to ship Porter Jr. away to a desperate contender looking to add whatever proven firepower it can to stay relevant. Still, there was always a sliver of hope that he'd played well enough for the team to consider keeping him as part of their future plans.
After all, he's still only 27 years old and appears to have a few truly great years ahead due to his otherworldly jump-shooting ability. However, it's likely that the Nets won't receive another opportunity to sell this high on the 6-foot-10 sharpshooter again in the near future.
The trade rumor mill has continued to run rampant with proposals and ideas centered around Porter Jr. landing with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors or with the Milwaukee Bucks to give Giannis Antetokounmpo one more shot at competing for another title, and Hollinger's words have indicated that he'll be moving on to a new franchise within the next month.
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