Trade Countdown! Is Michael Porter Jr. Worth a $40 Million Annual Salary Now?

Let's talk about Michael Porter Jr.'s situation.

Recently, Nets player Michael Porter Jr. has been seeking a contract extension worth an average annual salary of $40 million.

Sean Deveney said: "Porter Jr. will enter a contract year next season. He hopes the starting salary of his new contract can match his current annual salary, but the Nets are unlikely to be willing to offer such a high salary."

"If the two sides cannot reach a compromise, trade rumors surrounding him will inevitably intensify. Even if Porter Jr. eventually gets the extension he wants, he could still be placed on the trade market before the February trade deadline next year."

Meanwhile, Nets reporter Erik Slater also said that Michael Porter Jr.'s Nets career may be coming to an end. The Nets currently appear more inclined to view Porter Jr. as a trade asset rather than a long-term core piece.

Porter Jr. was sent from the Nuggets to the Nets in a trade during the 2025 offseason. In that deal, he was still viewed as a negative asset. The specific trade details were:

— The Nets received Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 unprotected first-round pick.

— The Nuggets received Cameron Johnson.

One reason the Nuggets moved Porter Jr. was to reduce their salary burden. Another reason was his poor performance in the 2025 playoffs against the Clippers and Thunder (he was playing through a shoulder injury at the time).

At the time, many people believed the Nuggets had made a good trade, but Porter Jr. quickly proved them wrong, as his performance exceeded the expectations of many fans.

Last season, Porter Jr. played 52 games for the Nets, averaging 32.5 minutes, 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game, with shooting splits of 46.3%/36.3%/85.9% and a true shooting percentage of 59.5%.

By comparison, in Porter Jr.'s final season with the Nuggets, he averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.6 steals, with shooting splits of 50.4%/39.5%/76.8% and a true shooting percentage of 61.7%.

After leaving Nikola Jokic's side, Porter Jr.'s numbers did not decline. Instead, his scoring reached a career high, while his efficiency did not drop significantly. His true shooting percentage remained close to 60%, and he averaged 3.4 made three-pointers per game, the fourth-most in the league.

Because of his strong performance, Porter Jr. was once included in discussions for the All-Star team and Most Improved Player award. Without a doubt, this was the best season of his career.

It should be noted that Porter Jr.'s numbers were not simply the result of empty statistics. In last season's regular season:

— When Porter Jr. was on the court, the Nets scored 113.0 points per 100 possessions and were outscored by opponents by 6.6 points.

— When Porter Jr. was off the court, the Nets scored 102.9 points per 100 possessions and were outscored by opponents by 12.8 points.

At the end of the season, the Nets even chose to DNP Porter Jr. in order to fully commit to rebuilding, which also showed that he was a player capable of providing positive value to the team.

Of course, Porter Jr.'s statistical explosion was closely related to his role.

With the Nuggets, Porter Jr. was the team's third or even fourth offensive option. His job was relatively simple: make catch-and-shoot plays and cut without the ball as a supporting player.

With the Nets, however, Porter Jr. took on more ball-handling responsibility. His ability to make contested shots was also better than many people expected; he was far more than just a catch-and-shoot player next to Jokic.

This also highlights Porter Jr.'s talent. He is 2.08 meters tall, has elite shooting ability by current NBA standards, and because of his extremely high release point, his shots can often go over defenders.

In addition, rebounding is another strength for Porter Jr. He averaged 7.1 rebounds last season and 6.5 rebounds for his career. His height gives him a stronger ability to secure rebounds.

However, Porter Jr.'s defense and injury concerns are issues. Due to the impact of his back injuries, his ability to switch defensively is limited, and his availability also needs to be considered. These are concerns for the Nets.

Simply put, the current Porter Jr. is better suited as an elite supporting player rather than a franchise cornerstone. The Nets wanting to trade him is understandable. In fact, the Nets had been shopping Porter Jr. throughout last season, but perhaps because their asking price was too high (one or two first-round picks), no team was willing to make a deal.

In my personal opinion, Porter Jr. is a very good player. His strengths are obvious, but he also does not fully align with the Nets' direction moving forward, making a trade seem almost inevitable.

As for his salary, $40 million is somewhat too high. Signing him at that price could turn him into a negative asset, while $30 million would be more suitable. There are many teams that could fit Porter Jr., and before February next year, there should be a major storyline to watch.