NBA Rumor: Otto Porter Trade?
50 rumors in this storyline
More Rumors in this Storyline
Otto Porter staying in Orlando for now
Chris Haynes: Multiple teams eyeing Otto Porter Jr., who’s headed to Orlando, as a potential buyout pickup but the veteran forward – for now – plans to remain with the team, league source tells @YahooSports.
Shams Charania: The Orlando Magic are trading Nikola Vucevic to Chicago for Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Teams are also eyeing Otto Porter Jr., who’s played only 45 games with the Bulls since being acquired from the Wizards in 2019 because of ongoing back issues. Chicago could just let his contract run out before he hits the market this offseason, but executives believe a buyout could occur. League sources say one team with interest in Porter is the Warriors.
The Washington Wizards announced today that they have acquired forwards Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker as well as a 2023 second round pick from the Bulls in exchange for Otto Porter Jr. “We are bringing in two former first round picks who will give us frontcourt depth with their ability to play multiple positions,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “The trade also provides us with an opportunity to continue to develop two promising young players while giving us future flexibility.”
The 15% trade bonus for Otto Porter is voided because his current $26M salary is above the max for a player with O-6 years of service. Porter is under contract for two more seasons, $27.3M and a $28.5M player option in 2020-21. The Bulls project to have $21M (including their first round pick) in cap space for 2019-20.
Jeff Zillgitt: Can confirm Otto Porter Jr is headed to the Bulls. The Wizards were content to keep Otto Porter Jr. as recent as earlier this week. But that was before news of the John Wall injury, which changed things for Washington.
Significant financial savings in Washington with the Otto Porter trade to Chicago. The Wizards tax bill for this season now drops from $8.96M to $3.34M. The team is now $2.3M below the tax threshold. For 2019-20, Washington now has $89.5M in guaranteed contracts, a savings of $28M. Jabari Parker has a $20M team option that needs to be exercised by June 29. Bobby Portis is on an expiring contract and the Wizards will have until the end of June to submit a $3.6M Qualifying Offer.
The team is still giving off the impression that it wants to keep its core together, which is nothing new. Its received calls about Bradley Beal all season but hasn’t engaged in trade negotiations, according to sources. Though it hasn’t been nearly as adamant about holding onto Otto Porter, trade talks around the sixth-year forward haven’t picked up much steam, according to sources.
Portland stands a potential buyer — an under-the-radar really good team with questions about its postseason viability. The Trail Blazers have put their first-round pick in play, per sources around the league. They have investigated Porter’s availability. Taurean Prince makes some sense; he’s up for an extension this summer, and the Hawks have made him available, sources say. As a free agent non-destination, the Blazers value players whose rights they can control. But the Hawks are asking a lot so far — a young player and a pick — and haven’t gotten much traction on Prince trades, sources say.
After months of speculation surrounding the future of players like John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. amid the Wizards’ struggles, team owner Ted Leonsis went on the record to confirm his star players won’t be involved in trade talks ahead of the Feb. 7 trade deadline. “I love when they go, ‘trade Bradley Beal. Trade John Wall. Trade Otto Porter.’ And I go ‘ok, for who?’ We’re not trading any of those players… wouldn’t throw in the towel on this core,” Leonsis said during an interview with WTOP radio.
Noah Frank: On possibility of dealing Wall, Beal, Porter before NBA Trade Deadline: “We’re not trading any of those players”
For now, they don’t plan on dealing Otto Porter, who has three years and about $82 million remaining on his deal, in a swap that would hurt today’s on-court product, according to sources.
As we head into trade deadline season, the Jazz continue to search for that dynamic third piece that up to this point has eluded them, league sources tell The Athletic. According to sources, the Jazz have expressed interest in Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley and Wizards small forward Otto Porter Jr., both of whom have been put on the trade block by their respective teams. Does that mean the Jazz will for sure actively make offers for one or both? Not necessarily. But it does mean if circumstances align, the Jazz may have interest in throwing their hat into the ring.
The Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic are still competing for a playoff berth, but both teams are preparing for the deadline with the awareness their moves will be made based upon whether the team is trending upward or down as Feb. 7 approaches, sources said. Wizards star guard Bradley Beal is not going anywhere, which Washington has made adamantly clear, league sources told The Athletic. Depending on how the next week to two weeks shape up, the Wizards could look more aggressively toward moving Otto Porter. The Utah Jazz have been an interested suitor for Porter, league sources said. Beal has helped lead the Wizards to seven wins in their past 10 games, carrying a squad that lost All-Star John Wall to season-ending heel surgery before the New Year.
Ted Leonsis expressed firmly what team officials have been indicating for weeks, that if they are active at the trade deadline, it won’t be with deals involving their main guys. That means Beal is highly unlikely to be dealt. Otto Porter Jr. can be considered similarly and John Wall should go without saying given his current injury status and hefty trade kicker.
The Kings continue to explore adding a rangier small forward, but they need to be wary of throwing major assets and cap room at what could end up an incremental move. (The bet here is that they do proceed with caution, in part because the Wizards have shown little appetite for dealing Otto Porter anywhere for a return heavy on future assets and cap flexibility, sources say.
Acquiring Kanter might make the Kings more willing to part with center Willie Cauley-Stein, who could become a restricted free agent this summer. The Kings have pursued Washington Wizards small forward Otto Porter Jr. in free agency and trade talks over the past couple of years. Cauley-Stein could be a key player in a deal for Porter.
The Mavericks have expressed interest in trading for Wizards forward Otto Porter, league sources told The Athletic.
Wizzzzards (when said team already has a ‘z’ in its name, adding additional ‘z’s reflects the dysfunction being discussed): No team has been accused of falling short of expectations for longer than Washington, and a 5-11 start was enough to spark a no-punches-pulled practice session on Nov. 20 in which players’ frustrations flew all over the floor. Yet while the Wizards’ front office has been open to discussing any and all members of their core, their Dec. 16 trade with Phoenix for Trevor Ariza signaled (once again) a pivot toward prioritizing playoff contention rather than rebuilding (and no, we’re not going into even bother getting into the tale of two Brookses). For all the focus on the idea of John Wall (too expensive) or Bradley Beal (too good) being traded, it’s small forward Otto Porter who appears most likely to be dealt before the Feb. 7 deadline.
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.
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.
Kings interested in Otto Porter
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.
April 19, 2021 | 7:58 am EDT Update
Mike James to Brooklyn
Chema de Lucas: Mike James will play with the Brooklyn Nets until the end of the season. Immediate incorporation. Nets interest in the CSKA Moscow player was first reported by @Eurohoopsnet.
Reigning EuroLeague scoring champion Mike James has emerged as a candidate to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, Eurohoops has learned via a source. James was suspended indefinitely by CSKA Moscow in late March following an incident with team head coach Dimitris Itoudis and has headed back to his native United States. UPDATE: He will join the Nets, according to Chema de Lucas.
Raptors sign Yuta Watanabe to standard NBA contract
The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have signed forward Yuta Watanabe (YOU-tuh wah-tuh-NAH-bay) to a standard NBA contract. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Watanabe, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds, is averaging 4.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.4 minutes in 39 games (one start) as a two-way player with the Raptors this season. He is shooting .448 (56-125) from the field, including .400 (24-40) from three-point range, and has scored in double figures six times. Watanabe recorded a career-high 21 points Apr. 16 vs. Orlando.
Hasheem Thabeet is looking to make an NBA comeback, his agent Jerry Dianis told me on Saturday. The 7’3″ big-man just won MVP honors while playing in Taiwan for the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers. “Bottom line Hasheem Thabeet was given a opportunity, and he killed it,” Dianis told me. “MVP performance with career highs in points, rebounds, minutes played, assists and steals. Thabeet averaged 18.3 points, 14.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.
“With the recent conclusion of his season in Taiwan, Hasheem is an unrestricted free agent,” Dianis added. “He is in the best shape of his life as certified by his recent MVP performance. Hasheem looks forward to helping an NBA team that needs his athleticism and size off the bench. I have no doubt Hasheem will be inundated with worldwide opportunities.”
Anthony Davis returning against the Mavericks?
Marc Stein: The Lakers continue to list Anthony Davis as out for Monday’s home date with Utah. So Davis’ return to the lineup likely comes Thursday or Saturday in Dallas against a Mavs team that has lost four straight at home … including tonight after the Kings had lost nine in a row. pic.twitter.com/76TPnvFZ7w
Dave McMenamin: The Lakers have officially ruled out Anthony Davis on Monday vs. UTA, which means his return will likely come on the road with the Lakers having an upcoming four-game trip starting Thursday in Dallas.
