Michael Porter Jr. exploded for the Brooklyn Nets, transforming their offense. This impactful trade lands squarely among the offseason's best moves.
In his first season with the Brooklyn Nets, Michael Porter Jr. has become one of the top scorers in the NBA, averaging 24.2 points per game, while adding 7.1 rebounds and a career-high three assists.
He has been perhaps the brightest spot on a Nets team sitting at 17-55, the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference.
Monday morning, ESPN contributor Zach Cram released his 10 best and 10 worst deals since the offseason, with the Nets trading for Porter sitting within the top five.
Thus far, the Nets are the clear winner in their acquisition of Porter, as he is averaging more than twice as many points as Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (11.8), who the Nuggets swapped Porter last June.
As part of the trade, the Nets also acquired a 2032 unprotected first-rounder, which could prove valuable as three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić will be on the backend of his career.
The Nuggets' defense has also taken a hit, as Denver is giving up over 116 points per game, ranking in the bottom 10 in the NBA.
Porter has become much more aggressive, upping his usage percentage by nearly eight full points. He is also shooting nearly five more shots than his previous season-high of 13.6 field-goal attempts per game.
However, his scoring increase and added responsibility have kept his shooting marks relatively stable, shooting at 46.3/36.3/85.9 splits. Porter has also become a much more willing passer in Brooklyn after earning a reputation as one of the lowest assist guys in the league.
He talked about his growth as a passer and how it affects his teammates earlier in the season.
"Now, here, having the ball in my hands a lot more, a lot more actions drawn up for me, there's more opportunity for me to either shoot or pass and get assists, and we have guys that can knock down shots," Porter said. "So yeah, it's definitely something that's not surprising to me, but I guess it surprises a lot of other people."
The free-throw line was also a big tool for Porter in his first season as a No. 1 option, doubling his attempts per game and shooting a career-high 85.9-percent at the charity stripe.
Unfortunately, Porter is likely done for the year after suffering ankle and hamstring injuries in mid-March. He becomes the second Nets player likely done for the year, as rookie point guard Egor Demin was sidelined earlier this month.
However, this breakout season has provided Brooklyn with a bona-fide scorer heading into the NBA draft, where the Nets will be in line to add a top-tier talent.
ㅤ
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!