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Michael Porter Jr.'s Surge Puts Nets at a Crossroads as Trade Interest Grows

All-Star voting is underway with his candidacy tempered by Brooklyn’s 7-18 record.

Overview

  • Brooklyn is expected to gauge offers for Porter, according to reporting citing team openness to listening as it reassesses a fuller rebuild.
  • Porter is averaging about 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists on roughly 50/40/81 shooting, drawing internal praise for elite off-ball impact from assistant Steve Hetzel.
  • He became the first forward to log four straight games with at least 30 points and five threes, and OptaSTATS notes only he and Kevin Durant hit 525 points on 50% FG and 40% 3PT in their first 20 games with a team.
  • His scoring run has nudged the Nets out of the worst lottery odds—after a 0-7 start they are 7-11 over their last 18—complicating an offseason plan geared toward asset accumulation.
  • Outside chatter includes a Bleacher Report mock deal sending him to the Bulls and media links to the Warriors, and his offseason arrival from Denver included an unprotected 2032 first-round pick.