Yahoo Sports contributing NBA writer Tom Haberstroh and NBA writer Dan Devine discuss the Nets forward’s strong play in the first part of the season and why he’s a likely trade candidate for Brooklyn before next month’s deadline. Check out the full conversation on “The Big Number” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
Number two in our little numbers this week is 13, lucky number 13.
That’s how many NBA players this season are averaging at least 25 points per game on .600 true shooting, according to Stathead.com.
It’s a list full of MVPs, Full of multi-time All-NBA selections, includes one former All-Star in Lauri Markkanen.
It also includes Michael Porter Jr. Ooh.
After being shipped from the Denver Nuggets.
To the Brooklyn Nets in the offseason, he is performing at an All-Star level himself.
Elite scoring efficiency, despite shouldering the largest offensive workload of his career.
81% at the rim, 40% from three- point land on more than nine attempts per game, Highest free-throw attempt rate, highest assist rate of his career.
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This is a 6’10” sharpshooter, a bona fide scorer, and a plus rebounder.
By the way, the Nets have been an elite defense over the last month with him playing.
– Yeah.
…big minutes in it, so he’s somebody who has He’s been in a smaller role on a title contender.
He’s now in a bigger role on a team that is winning with its defense.
And he’s shouldering the scoring load for them.
He has one more year on the, His deal ends after the season, so he’s owed $40.8 million for 2026-27.
So it’s like, it’s not nothing if you go and you get him.
But you also have him for another year after this.
If you’re one of the many teams looking for, like, Another shooter, frontcourt scoring, size, like the teams that we’ve all heard about with Lauri Markkanen, right?
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Like, your Detroits, your San Antonios, your whomevers, why wouldn’t you instead maybe want to give Brooklyn the Brooklyn Nets a call and see if they’d be willing to listen to a pitch on Michael Porter Jr.?
Because just based on the numbers and the way The production’s there this season.
He’s maybe been at least as good as Lauri Markkanen.
If not a little better.
I’ve got to say, uh, Sean Marks, Excellent job getting a 2032 first-round pick and this dude in that trade for Cam Johnson.
Who has had a really rough year.
Of course, we mentionedyeah.
… That he’s injured now, but he’s had a really down year for the Denver Nuggets, you know, next to Jokic, I thought his numbers would get way better.
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And in fact, The opposite has happened.
Not only have Cam Johnson’s numbers worsened, But over there in Brooklyn, he’s putting up an All-Star season.
Michael Porter Jr. And he is potentially going to get a first round pick or multiple first-round picks or those types of assets if the, is going to be moved at the deadline here.
And I think it’s a, a reasonable expectation to believe that is going to happen.
That Michael Porter Jr. will be a sell-high candidate here at the deadline, For a team like the Golden State Warriors, or… Look, man, a lot of teams are going to want a sharpshooter who can do multiple things out on the floor, which is why they were an NBA champion a couple of years back with the Denver Nuggets.
He is a guy who needs high-level defenders.
Around him to make up for some of his shortcomings, but the dude is a Hooper.