Michael Porter Jr. is the belle of the 2026 NBA trade deadline ball. Every day, every hour arrives with a new update on the Brooklyn Nets forward and where he might be traded to, if he’s traded at all. Today, it was Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, reporting that the Golden State Warriors — believed to be a top suitor for MPJ — are wary of giving up multiple first-round picks in any deal:
Early signals from the Warriors are that they do not want to trade more than one first-round pick for Porter, especially
since such a move would involve trading Kuminga and Moses Moody…
Porter appears to be at the top of the Warriors’ list right now if they can land him for Kuminga, Moody, Buddy Hield, and a first-round pick. Whether this is adequate value for the Brooklyn Nets and whether that organization will even trade him over the next three weeks is the big question.
The Nets, however, may be getting an indirect boost from a different Western Conference team, the New Orleans Pelicans. In that same article, Siegel reports that the Warriors would be more willing to trade multiple picks for either Trey Murphy or Herb Jones; however, earlier this week, Chris Haynes reported that New Orleans was not interested in trading any of their best players…
If that’s not just posturing from an often confusing Pelicans front office — Porter Jr. really becomes the ultimate prize of this year’s trade deadline, especially among wing players. As for the Warriors, they have quite a few tradable first-round picks…
Siegel adds:
What the Nets decide to do with Michael Porter Jr. may have the greatest impact on this year’s trade landscape. Aside from how his availability impacts teams like the Warriors and Bucks, Porter possibly being moved sets the market for what everyone else’s price may be.
Even though there is clear interest from Golden State and Milwaukee, both of which have talked with Brooklyn since the start of 2026, the Nets have yet to signal that they are truly willing to move the 27-year-old forward in the midst of his career year.
To sum it up: While other teams could get involved, Golden State and Milwaukee are the only teams clearly interested in MPJ as of right now. How eager the Nets are to trade their leading scorer, and what they deem his trade value to be remain the big mysteries.
So, what should the Brooklyn Nets do? On the latest episode of Locked On Nets, Erik Slater and I debated the best path forward for Brooklyn. What does an extension for Michael Porter Jr. look like? Do the Nets have to cash in on his meteoric rise in trade value? How does he affect this year’s tank? How does he fit into their updated timeline on the long road back to contention?
And more…
Michael Porter Jr. will be back in action on Monday night, as the Brooklyn Nets take on the Dallas Mavericks with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
