Brooklyn Nets Could Trade Michael Porter Jr Before Deadline

Merlin sees the Nets quietly signaling a roster reset. Sources say Brooklyn is "willing to listen to pitches on the bulk of their veteran players" and could put Michael Porter Jr. on the block to convert cap space into draft capital. Porter is averaging a career high 25.6 points per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three, but he carries about a 38.3 million cap hit with one season and 40.8 million left on his deal. Trading him would speed a rebuild but is complicated because few teams can match that salary without complex deals. Merlin remembers Porter as a title contributor in Denver and knows the Nets already took a first round pick to get him. Owner Joe Tsai has said, "We have one pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick." Brooklyn may try to act as a facilitator in multi team swaps to turn salary into future assets, but finding willing partners will be the true test.