Throughout the New Orleans Pelicans' offseason, the fan base has clung to several players as their dream trade targets at different points. The latest player in this realm is Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., who has been thrown in trade rumors as he and the Nets have struggled to work out a long-term extension. Porter Jr. is on a one-year $40.8 million contract and is coming off a career year in Brooklyn, where he flashed that No. 1 option potential that he wasn’t able to display in Denver due to his role.
Obviously, in no world is having MPJ as a No. 1 option going to see any team win a title, hence the Nets' 26-win season last year. However, if you’re the Pelicans, MPJ’s role with your team wouldn’t be the No. 1 option—it would be to complement Zion Williamson as a high-volume floor spacer.
I’ve gone back and forth on whether I think MPJ is a worthy trade target for the current Pelicans, especially considering that Trey Murphy III and he can provide similar value.Â
The conclusion I’ve come to is that New Orleans shouldn’t pursue a move for Porter Jr.
MPJ’s fit sounds better than the reality
I understand the allure of MPJ. He averaged 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 36.3 percent from three on over nine attempts per game at 6-foot-10 is very appealing. I love the sound of that on this team, especially considering how poor New Orleans has shot the three-ball over the last several years. On top of that, Porter Jr. won an NBA championship with Denver in 2023 and has been consistently strong in the postseason.
My issue with it is two things: No. 1 is he needs a contract extension.Â
If the Pelicans made a deal for Porter Jr., they’d be faced with the same problem the Nets currently face, which is: What really is MPJ worth? Sure, he had a massive season, was efficient, and filled up the stat sheet, but in the modern NBA with the current cap and the apron, extending players of this archetype is tough. There is a scenario where Porter Jr. is worth that type of money, but if his production slips even slightly, it could handcuff the franchise from filling out the rest of the roster.Â
The other issue with MPJ is the injury history. For the most part over the last two years, he has been fully healthy, and it hasn’t been an issue. But looking at his past and the fact that he ended last season on the sidelines with a hamstring issue, it’s definitely something worth noting.Â
When you already have Murphy III, who provides similar scoring and shooting upside, is two years younger, and is already locked up on a great contract, trading for Porter Jr. doesn’t make sense. I understand the draw of having both Murphy III and MPJ on the wings to provide Zion Williamson ideal spacing. However, to deplete this roster to add someone you have to extend long term, who is approaching the end of his prime and has a grim injury history, wouldn’t be a great path to take.
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