Golden State Not Pursuing Michael Porter Jr. Despite Kuminga Demand

Merlin sees the Warriors are not "super interested" in trading for Michael Porter Jr., according to Zach Lowe and reporting from Shams Charania and Anthony Slater. That stance holds even after Jonathan Kuminga demanded a trade Thursday following his fall out of Golden State’s rotation. The team hasn’t talked with Brooklyn in "more than a month" and never showed "real interest." Porter is having a career year, averaging 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 48.6/40.1/84.1 shooting, and would be an obvious offensive fit beside Stephen Curry. Merlin senses the road ahead is all about trade math. Golden State’s defense has struggled recently and Porter brings questions on that end, while Kuminga’s age and upside appeal to Brooklyn’s timeline. With the Feb. 5 deadline closing in, Golden State must choose between an immediate scoring boost and longer term roster balance.