Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. has been one of the most vital members of the Nets since he came to the team ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. Brooklyn has put Porter in a position to be the primary scoring option for one of the youngest teams in the NBA, but there are people around the league who predict that the sharpshooting forward could be playing elsewhere.
"Since July, Porter has been eligible to sign a four-year, $236.5 million extension with Brooklyn. If the Nets move him, Porter would become eligible to sign for three years and $154 million with his new team," ESPN's Bobby Marks wrote concerning Porter and his current contract situation. Porter is eligible to be extended up until after this season ends, but it would be significantly
less earning potential for him if he is extended by another team.
"He can also elect to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027, regardless of his post-deadline future," Marks continued while essentially giving his reasoning for why he predicts that Porter will be traded by the Feb. 11 trade deadline. There has been no indication on how the Nets feel about extending Porter, but it seems like he's more likely to be on the move given that he remains in a contract year.
"Porter is averaging at least 20 points per game for the second consecutive season, but the 28-year-old forward is doing more than just scoring," Marks wrote when discussing what Porter's impact has been for the Nets this season and what he could offer to other teams. "His 1.6 steals per game (with 2.5 deflections) is a career high, and Brooklyn's defense is eight points per 100 possessions better with Porter on the court."
Porter, 28, is having another solid season for the Nets as he's averaging 21.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.2% from the field and 37.2% from three-point land in 10 appearances. However, with Brooklyn beginning this season with a 2-8 record, Porter could be traded to another team if the Nets aren't able to turn things around enough to make general manager Sean Marks feel confident in the current roster.
ESPN predicts that the Nets will trade Michael Porter Jr. before the Feb. 11 NBA trade deadline.
— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) November 9, 2026
As ESPN notes, Porter has been eligible to sign a 4-year, $236.5 million extension, but if he's traded, he can still sign for 3 years and $154 million.https://t.co/y8pUM7An4T
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: ESPN projects Nets to trade Michael Porter Jr. before trade deadline
