WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 21: Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets in action against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on January 21, 2024 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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The Brooklyn Nets took on the contract of Michael Porter Jr this summer, as they relinquished Cam Johnson, but also received 2032 first-round selection for their troubles.
While the deal was primarily motivated by financial reasons, Porter Jr should have an immediate impact on the team, in more ways than one.
Untapped potential?
While he won a championship with the Nuggets in 2023, Porter Jr always played on the shadows of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. As he entered the NBA with Kevin Durant-like comparisons, there’s always been, in the NBA sphere, some wonderings about how he’d fare, if he were to be given the keys to the offense.
Those keys have now been placed in his hands, at least until they find resolution on the Cam Thomas situation, who will assuredly take up numerous shots this season as well.
That said, the idea of a 6’10 wing taking shots off the dribble, and assserting himself offensively, is an intriguing one. Porter Jr can shoot over most players, and his accuracy (career 40.6 3FG%) has probably always flown a bit too under the radar.
And Porter Jr will take shots more off his own accord, because why shouldn’t he? The biggest obstacle will be to understand where his spots will be, as he hasn’t had the freedom, at the NBA level, to identify those spots with the ball in his hands.
Will he become a mid-range pull-up shooter? Will he create his own looks from beyond the three-point line? Will he attack the rim more?
Loads of questions, which we’ll all get an answer to in a few months.
Impact on the young guards
With the Nets drafting multiple ball-handlers in the draft this year, having Porter Jr as a passing target is not to be underestimated.
Porter Jr is a player who historically has been assisted on the vast majority of his shots. 72.9% of his two-pointers were created by others, as were 92.2% of his three-pointers.
Those percentages might find themselves lowered given he’s no longer playing with Jokić, but that doesn’t mean he won’t play off the ball anymore.
Ben Saraf, Egor Demin, and Nolan Traoré especially will all develop further by having a 6’10 target, who will run the wings, fill the paint, and generally work as a play finisher for them.
This should accelerate their process in learning how to read the floor at the NBA level, and how to utilize scoring wings, of which there is no shortage in this league.
All-in-all, both sides stand to benefit here.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.