Michael Porter Jr. is the best player on the rebuilding Nets, but also their biggest question.
He’s the only Net with a ring or to have played at an All-Star level. But at 27 and on an expiring deal, do they extend him this summer or deal him?
What Nets GM Sean Marks wants is a mystery. For Porter himself, not so much.
“If it was up to me, I’d love to sign an extension with this franchise,” said Porter. “I feel like we mesh. We have great vibes, great energy in the locker room, and to be a part of something that’s building in a positive way, a positive momentum, that’d be awesome. I’d love to spend many years in Brooklyn, make this my home and build and watch this franchise take off, because we saw glimpses of it this year.
“There was a lot of positives. Front office-wise, they have the ability to make some moves and make us even better. If the goal is to win, which we all know it is, then I’d love to make this my home, and that’d definitely be a cool thing for sure.”
Porter joined Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown as the only players to average 24 points and seven rebounds this season, even after a slow finish and a hamstring injury.
“Once All-Star break happened and I realized I wasn’t an All-Star, I had a little slippage in my focus, in my preparation,” said Porter. “That can’t happen regardless of what’s going on with the team and the record.”
Still, Porter has made known his desire to stick around. Marks has been more coy.
After trades selling high on Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, Marks could deal Porter to a contender in need of shooting.
“We spoke a little bit in the exit interview, me and Andy [Birdsong, assistant GM]. And me and Sean had a phone call,” said Porter. “But my job is to just make it clear I want to be here and let those guys know. And from there, it’s on them, whatever’s best for the franchise. Either way, they can let me know what’s going on or not. I have no hard feelings.
“I always feel grateful and blessed to be given an opportunity to play for a lot of money. And I think that Sean and them will be transparent with me. But I don’t think they owe me that. Obviously as a player I would appreciate it, and I’d like to know what they’re thinking. But things happen quick in the NBA; deals come up and things move pretty fast. So just got to take it in stride and see what happens.”
Porter is on an expiring $40.8 million deal, and on July 6 becomes eligible for an extension of up to four years and $234 million. The price will certainly be lower, but will he get signed at all?
“[In] the summer, there’s going to be a lot of those discussions,” said Marks. “Whether it’s with Michael, there’s a variety of decisions we have to make with a variety of our players.”
Cap expert Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron mentioned a four-year, $194 million extension, but suggested the Nets could get Porter for less. He’d earlier opined four years, $160 million.
Both Gozlan and ESPN Insider Bobby Marks said the Nets could use some of their $30 million in cap space to renegotiate and extend Porter, giving him a raise next season and then up to a 40% pay cut in the first year of the extension.
Gozlan suggested raising him to the 30 percent max of $49.5 million, then give him a smaller $30 million cap hit in the subsequent season. That would both help the Nets’ team-building and boost his trade value.
“I don’t think anybody questioned whether he could shoot, but could he be a No. 1 option? And for us, he’s the No. 1 option,” said Marks. “I just enjoyed the person, I enjoyed being around him. He’s a fun-loving guy, he’s curious.”
Marks gave only a sly nod to Porter’s podcast, “Curious Mike.” He gave even less on his summer plans.
