Though the Kings may have interest in Porter, the Wizards maintain their stance that they are not looking to trade him, according to a person familiar with the situation. That means no plans to ship him to Sacramento or anywhere else.
More on Otto Porter Trade?
NBC Sports California can confirm an earlier report that the Kings have kept in contact with the Washington Wizards in regards to the availability of small forward Otto Porter. Nothing is imminent, but according to the league source, the Kings definitely like the potential fit with the six-year pro if the deal was right.
As the Kings try to put the issues between coach Dave Joerger and assistant general manager Brandon Williams behind them, the front office continues to look at options to improve the roster. League sources said the Kings are closely monitoring the Washington Wizards with an eye on making a play for forward Otto Porter Jr.
The Kings have liked Porter for some time. A contingent from the front office traveled to the East Coast to meet with Porter when he was a restricted free agent in 2017. Porter opted to sign an offer sheet with Brooklyn instead of the Kings. That four-year, $106 million deal was matched by Washington. The Kings still haven’t filled their need for a small forward since missing out on Porter. Joerger has started guard Iman Shumpert at small forward most of the season.
Trading Porter and his $26 million salary isn’t easy, though. Houston would have to give up both Knight and Eric Gordon just to make the salaries work, and that would just mean sacrificing backcourt depth to shore up the frontcourt. That’s why Oubre has to be included, and why a deal suddenly becomes a lot more interesting. Says a front-office source: “What if they upgrade the length and passing element of Gordon and get younger at the same time? Porter is a much better matchup in a Golden State series for both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. The optionality of Oubre as a 23-year-old restricted free agent at the end of the season is vitally important— important enough that some of picks you were going to put into play in a Butler deal might be better used here.”
Porter has a big contract, but, as a good shooter and long-limbed defender, is the kind of supplementary player teams might want. But the Wizards have tried to use him, and Kelly Oubre Jr., as chips in trades for a third star to pair with Wall and Beal in the past, and have always come up empty.
In talking with people around the league, it’s clear that Beal’s value stands high and above Porter’s or Wall’s. Beal has three years and $81 million remaining on his contract, including this season, generally considered fair value.
While Otto Porter Jr.'s name has been attached to multiple rumors, there has been little traction on any deal involving him, according to several people with knowledge of the situation. The doubt surrounding the availability of Porter, who re-signed with Washington in 2016 for a maximum contract, casts more uncertainty on the Wizards' openness to even discuss Wall or Beal.
Washington had hopes that forwards Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre could be centerpieces of deals that could return an impact third star, but those players have fetched minimal interest on the market. Porter has a massive contract on the books, including three years, $81 million left.
There are whispers that New Orleans is interested in Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr., who is in the second year of an enormous four-year, $106.5 million contract.
“I think they’ve had enough time, but they really haven’t (broken) through,” Dudley said. “I can see by the All-Star break or summer time one of these pieces moving. It’s going to be good for them. If it’s John, or Otto or Brad, one of them three, I think their next move is going to be good for both teams."
Word is the Wolves did try to engage Washington — another team falling well short of expectations — in trade talks for the sharpshooting guard Bradley Beal. But the Wizards have kept Beal off limits amid their 4-9 start. They would naturally prefer to trade the struggling Otto Porter, or perhaps even John Wall, but both possess hard-to-move contracts. My pal Zach Lowe at ESPN recently did a deep dive on just how hard Wall will be to trade once his "supermax" contract extension kicks in next season.
The Wizards value Porter, without a doubt. Though the organization did not extend a deal to him when he was a restricted free agent last summer and decided to keep Porter by matching the Brooklyn Nets' player-friendly offer sheet, whenever other teams call to inquire about the lanky swingman, the Wizards quickly end those conversations, according to several league sources.
The Wizards were able to unload the remaining three years and $19 million on the contract of Drew Nicholson in their trade with the Nets, and that money figures to be useful this summer when Otto Porter becomes a restricted free agent. Porter has improved steadily in his four NBA seasons, and the Wizards intend to re-sign him. Sources indicated that there were inquiries about Washington’s willingness to deal Porter throughout the year, but the Wiz were not interested. There will be suitors for Porter—the Suns and Nets are expected to be among them—which could push Porter’s price tag near the max. But Washington still intends to keep him.
They Clippers have called about almost every available small forward type, but no one is in a rush to take Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, and a distant first-round pick. That won't get them Wilson Chandler, and the Wiz threw their phones on the floor when the Clippers inquired about Otto Porter, per league sources.
dylan (11-29): Have you heard anything on Otto Porter? Do you think Wizards match everything up to max salary? - Steve Kyler: They say they intend to pay him. They are not looking at trade scenarios with him.
In talking to multiple persons with knowledge of the situation as recent as Wednesday afternoon, the Wizards remain determined to keep their core intact which means Beal stays put with John Wall, Markieff Morris, Marcin Gortat, Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter.
