In 2020, Michael Porter Jr. appeared to be the next generational superstar set to take the league by storm. In 61 games played, Porter averaged 19 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, shooting an efficient 54 percent from the field, 45 percent from three, and 79 percent from the free-throw line.
As a result, many assumed these numbers would only continue to trend upwards with Porter expected to take on a larger role with the Denver Nuggets in 2021. That is until reality hit and he was held to just nine games after having to undergo the third back surgery of his young career.
There’s no denying that Michael Porter Jr. is one of the best pure talents the league has to offer. The issue is that he’s been dealing with back injuries since his freshman year of college and has yet to play a full NBA season. In fact, he was limited to just three games in his short collegiate career at Missouri as well due to (you guessed it) lower back surgery.
When he’s on the court, he’s one of the most exciting and efficient players in the NBA. As a 6’10” do-it-all forward that can shoot with the best of ’em or take opposing defenders one-on-one off the dribble, there are few prospects as enticing as MPJ.
But with availability being so important in the modern NBA, this begs the question if the Denver Nuggets would be better off trading him now while they could still get a decent return.
Obviously, it’s not going to be easy dealing a player who’s currently recovering from back surgery and owed $172.5 million over the next five years ($145 million guaranteed, per Spotrac). However, there are a few potential suitors that might just bite on a player like Michael Porter Jr., especially given that the talents obviously there and he’s still just 23-years-old.
So, here are three teams that could make an offer for Michael Porter Jr. this offseason.