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Nets' F Porter Seeking $40 Million Annually in Extension
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- Nets' F Porter Seeking $40 Million Annually in Extension
Nets' F Porter Seeking $40 Million Annually in Extension
(IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Connect)
The Brooklyn Nets' starting five will look very different from last season, with players like Day'Ron Sharpe , Mikel Brown Jr. , and Julius Randle entering the fray.
But, Michael Porter Jr ., Brooklyn's leading scorer last season, is returning and should be even more productive thanks to these new additions.
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While the former NBA Champion is eligible for a four-year, $234 million deal with Brooklyn, the franchise has been hesitant to extend Porter, leaving him as a potential candidate for a midseason move.
On Monday, NBA insider Sean Deveney noted that Porter is seeking a similar annual salary as his current pay, which eclipses $40 million.
"The Nets likely won't go that high, and if no middle ground is found, we are in for another heap of trade talk," Deverney wrote. "Even if Porter is extended, he could be a trade candidate by next February's deadline."
With Brooklyn entering the 2027 offseason with significant cap space and flexibility, the team may not want to extend Porter until seeing how he fits alongside Brown and Randle.
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But, a deal worth around $40 million annually rather than the $58.5 million annual average in a max extension could be a fair price for a player like Porter who provides so much on the offensive end.
In his first season with Brooklyn, Porter posted averages of 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and a career-best three assists per game.
The Nets' swap of Cameron Johnson for Porter last offseason has been a huge win to this point, as Porter far outplayed Johnson, and was packaged with a 2032 unprotected first-rounder that could become especially valuable if Nikola Jokic decides to move on from the Denver Nuggets .
In late March, the Nets' trade for Porter was characterized by ESPN contributor Zach Cram as a top-five move of the 2025 offseason.
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Porter looked comfortable in his new role with the Nets, increasing his scoring while keeping his shooting marks relatively stable, shooting at 46.3/36.3/85.9 splits.
He has also become a much more willing passer in Brooklyn after earning a reputation as one of the lowest assist guys in the league.
With a willing playmaker and downhill driver like Randle on the team, Porter should play a lot more off-the-ball, getting open looks on the perimeter thanks to Randle's rim pressure.
Porter's free-throw shooting also improved in his first season as a No. 1 option.
The former Missouri Tiger doubled his attempts per game and shot a career-high 85.9 percent from the charity stripe.
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Throughout the offseason, Porter has talked about the "love" he has developed for Brooklyn, while saying he wants to help turn the franchise around.
Best case scenario for the Nets is a good start to the season from Porter, who can increase his trade value while showing what he would be worth if an extension is granted.
