Michael Porter Jr
The Brooklyn Nets are beginning to face an unexpected dilemma with Michael Porter Jr. Despite this being his first season with the team, his strong play has complicated a rebuild that was supposed to prioritize future flexibility and draft positioning.
Porter, 27, has delivered All Star level production since arriving in Brooklyn. His scoring has fueled wins at a time when losses would better serve the franchise’s long term outlook. Brooklyn has now won four of its last six games, a stretch that pushed the team back to sixth in lottery odds and reignited internal questions about direction.
From a front office perspective, the issue is not performance. It is timing. Porter’s value may never be higher, and his current output does not align cleanly with a rebuild designed around draft capital and financial flexibility.
Nets’ Timing Question With Porter’s Rising Value
Porter’s numbers place him among the league’s most efficient high volume scorers this season, per Sports Illustrated. The 6 foot 10 wing is averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 81 percent at the line. Brooklyn’s record stands as the primary reason he has not entered broader All Star conversations.
That production has already drawn external attention. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley proposed a mock trade that sends Porter to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Patrick Williams, Zach Collins, and a top seven protected 2026 first round pick.
“Brooklyn, arguably to its detriment, hasn’t tanked as hard as some of basketball’s other bottom feeders,” Buckley wrote. “The organization, though, hasn’t lost sight of its biggest long term directives.”
Buckley pointed to the Nets’ willingness to absorb salary while collecting assets, a strategy previously reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. That same mindset helped Brooklyn land Porter in the first place by acquiring an unprotected 2032 first round pick from Denver as part of a prior deal involving Cam Johnson.
“With Porter playing at a high enough level to attract legitimate interest,” Buckley added, “they should sense an opportunity to effectively increase their return from that initial deal.”
Bulls Identified as Trade Partner in Mock Proposal
The proposed deal presents risk for both sides. Brooklyn would be taking back two players who may not factor into its long term plans while betting on Chicago’s future draft position. The Bulls, meanwhile, would be acquiring a proven scorer in exchange for depth and a protected first.
Chicago currently sits at 10 and 15, outside the Play In Tournament. After a promising start, the Bulls have drifted closer to lottery territory, which could make their 2026 pick more valuable than initially projected.
Recent on court results have only added to the complexity. Brooklyn delivered the largest blowout win in franchise history Sunday night, dominating Milwaukee 127 to 82 at Barclays Center, per NY Post. The Nets used four first round rookies in that game and held the Bucks scoreless for the final 7:04.
“You hold any team to no points for six minutes, that’s elite,” Noah Clowney said after scoring 16 points. “That’s probably the best form of hoops when everybody eats and everybody’s playing well.”
Assistant coach Steve Hetzel echoed that sentiment while acknowledging Porter’s usual role. “Normally, Mike has been carrying us offensively,” Hetzel said. “Then you see how spread out the points are. I don’t think anybody that stepped on the court played poorly.”
Brooklyn now stands at 7 and 18, averaging 116 points during its recent stretch while shooting nearly 40 percent from deep. Wins like Sunday’s showcase organizational depth, but they also sharpen the question surrounding Porter’s future as the trade deadline approaches.