Deadline Surprise Michael Porter Jr Staying with Brooklyn Nets

Michael Porter Jr. has been tied to trade chatter, but the Nets may hold him through the rest of the season. Marc Stein says he's "hearing pushback about the Nets' willingness to part ways with Porter before the offseason." Even after Jon Hollinger called Brooklyn a "dark horse" for Ja Morant, a source told Hollinger Porter "is a lack to move by the deadline." Merlin sees the reason. Porter is averaging 25.9 points and 7.4 rebounds since arriving, while Brooklyn sits 13th in the East at 11-24. Shipping him now would bring return but leave the Nets thinner. Brooklyn looks likely to protect its bargaining power and wait until the summer when interest and assets line up more favorably.