Why it’s on the list: Brooklyn traded Cameron Johnson to Denver for Porter and a 2032 first-round pick, and Porter has significantly outplayed Johnson this season. So Brooklyn got the best player in the trade and a future unprotected pick to add to its vast war chest.
Despite a massive increase in usage rate — Porter ranks 12th among qualified players this season with 30.4% usage, while his previous career high was 22.7% — on a worse team, Porter’s efficiency hasn’t dropped much. All those extra opportunities have boosted his scoring to a career-high 24.2 PPG, 5.2 points above his previous best.
What’s the potential playoff impact? None, with the Nets’ sights squarely on the lottery. But Brooklyn seeks to contend in 2026-27, with no control over its own draft pick next year, so Porter could be much more relevant then.