Warriors learning important Michael Porter Jr. lesson they can’t ignore
Neither the Golden State Warriors or Brooklyn Nets are collaborating on this yr’s playoffs, however there’s nonetheless a helpful lesson being realized about Michael Porter Jr. after the star ahead discovered himself in quite a few commerce rumors earlier than the mid-season deadline.
The Warriors, specifically, had been linked closely to a possible Porter commerce, but the shape and impression (or lack thereof) from former Nets gamers proves they should not be shopping for excessive on the 27-year-old if a possibility arises once more throughout the summer season.
Former Nets show Warriors should not commerce for Michael Porter Jr.
Porter is simply the most recent in a line of Brooklyn forwards who loved a career-best yr on the franchise in latest occasions, having averaged 24.2 factors, 7.1 rebounds and three.0 assists per recreation on 46.3% taking pictures from the ground and 36.3% from 3-point vary this season.
Yet latest historical past would recommend the Nets ought to have bought on Porter’s excessive worth when they had the prospect. Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson had been all the time going to see their numbers diminish with smaller roles on higher groups, however their lack of impression to start out these playoffs has been beginning and has additional justified Brooklyn’s determination to maneuver on on the proper time.
Bridges performed lower than 21 minutes within the New York Knicks’ Game 3 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, going scoreless after scoring simply 21 mixed factors via the primary two video games of the collection.
The 29-year-old has are available in for important criticism within the wake of his collection to this point, having solely been made worse by the very fact the Knicks gave up 5 first-round picks and a first-round decide swap for Bridges after posting large numbers in his simply over 12 months with the Nets.
Johnson, in the meantime, had simply six factors on 2-of-6 taking pictures within the Denver Nuggets’ Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, having averaged solely 12.2 factors in his first yr with the franchise after a career-high 18.8 with Brooklyn final season.
Warriors might have fallen for the Nets commerce lure
Johnson had been a possible goal for the Warriors earlier than they finally traded for Jimmy Butler earlier than the 2025 mid-season deadline, and time is additional vindicating their determination to cross given the 30-year-old is clearly not suited to being a major choice on an excellent workforce.
It could also be unfair to pair Porter in the identical group as Bridges and Johnson, however the latter two reside proof that no workforce, particularly Golden State with helpful future picks, must be falling for the lure of the Nets lifting the worth of a notable ahead whose numbers and impression merely will not/hasn’t translated to a greater workforce.
