Michael Porter Jr.'s time came to a close at the beginning of the offseason when the Denver Nuggets traded him and a first-round pick to the Nets for Cam Johnson. Just like that, Porter went from being a third option on one of the best teams in the league to a first option on a rebuilding team.
Porter, who spent the last seven seasons in Denver, is excited for his fresh start (not just because the Nets have better facilities) because he'll get to "expand his game." He told The Denver Gazette that he felt like he had reached his ceiling with the Nuggets. He will be in a new role in Brooklyn, one in which he can grow, but it won't be all sunshine and rainbows.
Adam Mare discussed Porter's future in Brooklyn with KOC on "The Kevin O'Connor Show" during Las Vegas Summer League. He pointed out that when Porter was tasked with a bigger offensive workload with Nikola Jokic off the floor, he struggled. It was hard for him to balance being a playmaker while trying to score, something that will be asked of him with the Nets, at least at times.
O'Connor doesn't believe that Brooklyn will ask MPJ to play point guard because of their other young point guards on the roster, which would play in his favor. However, then again, if Brooklyn wants to boost Porter's trade value, giving him that opportunity could be beneficial. It's not like the Nets are trying to win, so giving MPJ that green light might be something they do.
Michael Porter Jr. will play a completely new role with the Nets
Porter is entering an entirely new territory. He is many years removed from being a rookie, but in a way, his first season in Brooklyn will be like being a rookie all over again. He didn't have the kind of autonomy with the Nuggets that he had with the Nets. Denver didn't need him to be that kind of player.
It worked because he helped the Nuggets win their first-ever title. He didn't have to carry the weight of the team on his back, but instead, he played a supporting role.
It makes sense that MPJ is looking forward to the next part of his journey in Brooklyn, even though the Nets aren't favored to be a top team in a weakened conference. He'll have the opportunity to prove that he can do more, but it might not work out the way he thinks it will.
Porter won't play under the same spotlight that he did in Denver for a contender, but that doesn't mean the pressure won't be on in Brooklyn.