For the Denver Nuggets fans who are interested in knowing where Michael Porter Jr. will end up next, there is a chance that the Nets won't trade him before the Feb. 5 deadline. John Hollinger of The Athletic reported on Saturday that MPJ is "a lock to move by the deadline." However, on Sunday, NBA insider Marc Stein said he "keeps hearing pushback" about Brooklyn's willingness to move on from him (subscription required).
Porter is averaging a career-high 25.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game for the Nets, shooting 49% from the field and 39.7% from three. Everyone knew he'd step in and take over as the star of the show for the lowly Nets, but he's been fantastic. There is a real chance that he could be in Los Angeles over All-Star Weekend as a reserve.
It would make sense for Brooklyn to capitalize on how well MPJ is playing, which is why Hollinger wrote that the forward is a lock to be traded. Now that Trae Young is on a new team, Anthony Davis is out indefinitely, and it doesn't seem like Giannis Antetokounmpo is going anywhere midseason, the attention is on Porter.
Will the Nets trade former Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.?
Contenders, or teams that want to be contenders (like the Warriors), have already been thinking about an MPJ trade. He could help another team win a title as soon as this year, which isn't a territory that the Nets will be in. Brooklyn could add more draft capital by trading Porter.
It would be a win-win for both sides, but there seems to be some unwillingness on the Nets' side to do so. Perhaps Brooklyn is thinking about next season, when it owes a pick swap to Houston. The front office could want to keep MPJ around, as the team won't be in tank mode. You'd think they'd prefer to build the team around one of their younger players, though.
It'd be in Brooklyn's best interest to trade Porter soon, and although that isn't the stance the organization is taking, at least not yet, that doesn't mean he won't be on the move sometime over the next few weeks. MPJ has enjoyed the time he's spent in New York City, but it may be a brief stop before he ends up wherever he's going next.
Will he stay in the East, whether that be with the Nets or another team? Or will Porter return to the West?