Michael Porter Jr.
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Michael Porter Jr. is in his first season with the Brooklyn Nets.
While the rumors of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade remain rampant, a recent mock trade gives the Milwaukee Bucks added firepower in the form of Michael Porter Jr.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are at a stalemate, with both sides not wanting to be the bad guy. “The Greek Freak” already declared to Sam Amick of The Athletic that he’s never going to ask for a trade out of Milwaukee.
“There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment, that I will come out and say, ‘I want a trade.’ That’s not … in … my … nature. OK?” Antetokounmpo said.
The Bucks, on the other hand, could try and make an upgrade by adding a secondary option in scoring.
Trade Proposal Sends MPJ to Milwaukee
ESPN’s Zach Kram and Kevin Pelton thought of six trade ideas that would benefit the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors.
In the case of the Bucks, Michael Porter Jr. is their primary target. Porter is having a breakout campaign in his first season with the Brooklyn Nets. It was widely expected of him to be an All-Star caliber player following his trade away from the Denver Nuggets in the offseason.
But how can Milwaukee acquire MPJ? Here’s a three-team trade proposal that also involves the Detroit Pistons:
Bucks get: Michael Porter Jr.
Nets get:Kyle Kuzma, Taurean Prince and a 2031 first-round pick from MIL
Pistons get:Cole Anthony from MIL and cash considerations
“For Milwaukee, no player is a better deadline addition than Porter, who would fill a role similar to what Khris Middleton once played for the Bucks and make them far more capable of succeeding when Antetokounmpo sits,” Pelton wrote.
As for the Nets, the first-round pick is their ultimate prize since the Bucks could be a lottery team by 2031. They could also use that same pick in a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the middle of the 2026-27 season or even the summer of 2027.
The Pistons, on the other hand, have an empty roster spot and could do whatever they want with Anthony’s contract.
Nets’ Asking Price for Porter Jr.
Michael Porter Jr. is having an All-Star caliber season, averaging 26.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He’s shooting 49.5% from the field, 41.1% from deep and 82.8% from the free-throw line.
If MPJ isn’t playing on a terrible team, he’ll likely be a shoo-in for his first All-Star selection. The Brooklyn Nets also know that his value should be high, so their asking price for Porter, as well as Nic Claxton, starts with an unprotected first-round pick, as reported by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
“The Nets are in no rush to make a decision on Porter’s future and have simply been receptive to incoming calls. Brooklyn won’t begin to consider any trade packages for Porter, or Nic Claxton for that matter, without the inclusion of a true unprotected first-round pick, among other assets,” Siegel wrote.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported last week that the Bucks are not the only team interested in Porter. Fischer named the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons as potential suitors for the one-time NBA champion.