Expiring Contract Concern: Reporter Says Nets Could Move Michael Porter Jr. Before Trade Deadline

Reports indicate that the Nets now view Michael Porter Jr. more as a trade asset than as a long-term building block, and the team plans to explore trade options involving the star forward before the 2026-27 season trade deadline.

During the Third Apron podcast, a Nets insider mentioned that if extension talks break down, Brooklyn would consider putting him on the trade market.

After moving from the Nuggets to the Nets last offseason, Porter Jr. produced the best season of his career: he appeared in 52 games, averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 46.3% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.

Reporter Brian Lewis said directly that if an extension is not completed, it would be difficult to imagine the Nets keeping Porter Jr. for the entire season.

The Nets won only 20 games last season. After acquiring Julius Randle through a trade, the team aims to push back toward playoff contention. However, Porter Jr.'s uncertain future has made the Nets' situation for the new season complicated.

"In theory, the team could keep him past the trade deadline and let him finish the remaining schedule as an expiring contract, but I would be very surprised if that actually happened. Even if there is no extension now, they could extend him first and then trade him; but a salary cost of more than $40 million per year is simply too high. I find it hard to believe that by the end of February next year, Porter Jr. without a new contract would still be wearing a Nets uniform."