Nets face a pivotal decision: invest $234 million in Michael Porter Jr.'s future or explore a trade, impacting their rebuilding trajectory.
The Brooklyn Nets have a potentially franchise-changing matter to address this summer: trading or extending forward Michael Porter Jr.
Brooklyn acquired Porter Jr. and a 2032 unprotected first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for forward Cameron Johnson last summer.
The 6-foot-10 sharpshooter will enter the last year of his five-year, $179 million contract extension with the Nuggets when the new fiscal year begins. As a result, Porter Jr. is eligible for a five-year, $234 million contract extension that will pay him an average annual salary of $58.5 million.
His contract situation sparks discussion on whether the Nets should trade or extend because they have no incentive to tank next season. The Houston Rockets own their 2027 pick swap, which they acquired from the James Harden trade in 2021.
Porter Jr. is having a career year in Brooklyn as a high-volume first option, and it's a role he had to prepare himself for.
"Over here, it's going to be completely different, and I've got to be ready for that," Porter Jr. said on media day. "My body's got to be ready to handle the load. I've got to be ready to be fresh as a go-to guy in the fourth quarter, and I'm aware of that."
He's averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and three assists on 46.3-percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent from 3-point range and 85.9 percent in 32.5 minutes.
Brooklyn's first option averaged over 25 points in November and December. He dropped 30 points seven times in those months, including four straight 30-point games to start December.
Porter Jr's ascension is similar to that of New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges, who played a season and a half for the Nets after being traded for Kevin Durant. Bridges went from scoring 17.6 points in his final year with the Phoenix Suns to 21.2 points in 109 games with Brooklyn.
Another aspect of trading or extending Porter Jr. is that the Nets will have a range of $45 million to $55 million in cap room this summer, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
The Nets will have five restricted free agents in Ochai Agbaji, Jalen Wilson, EJ Liddell, Chaney Johnson and Tyson Etienne. They also have three team options to ponder in Ziaire Williams, Day'Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott.
Porter Jr. suffered a strained left hamstring injury on March 19, sidelining him for two to three weeks. With six games left for Brooklyn this month, the team has seen the last of him this season, after coach Jordi Fernandez provided an update on Porter Jr's status.
Brooklyn is tanking for a chance at the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, but their decision on extending or trading Porter Jr. is the biggest question it must address this offseason.
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