Otto Porter, Washington Wizards
This one is challenging. Because Otto Porter inked an offer sheet with the Nets and was matched over the summer, the former lottery pick would have to sign-off on any trade before July. He also has a pretty gnarly trade kicker. Still, should the Washington Wizards want to move him and he agrees to let it happen, Utah could be a nice situation for him.
If there’s an outside player I’ve hyper-focused on more than any other over the past two years, it has to be Porter. Once thought to be headed for bust status, Porter has improved his game and production to the point where he secured a four-year, $106 million max contract.
In addition to averaging 13 points, six boards and 1.5 steals per game last season, he posted a true shooting percentage of 62.8, which was a Top 10 mark league-wide. Porter also boasted the lowest turnover rate among qualifiers in the Association.
More from The J-Notes
- With the FIBA World Cup over for Simone Fontecchio, it’s clear he deserves minutes for the Utah Jazz
- Best, Worst and Most likely scenarios for the Utah Jazz this season
- Hoops Hype downplays the significance of the Utah Jazz’s valuable assets
- 3 Utah Jazz players who have the most to gain or lose this season
- Former Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay is a free agent still and it shouldn’t surprise anyone
He’s continued to be really, really good for the Wiz this season; he’d be even better in Utah in an expanded role. However, it seems pretty unlikely that the Jazz — who thought of him as a potential Gordon Hayward replacement last summer — could pry him from Washington’s grasp.
Porter is a core piece for the Wizards. And while recent comments from John Wall and Scott Brooks about his lack of aggressiveness offensively have prompted some fan chatter about a potential move, I don’t think he’s going anywhere. Washington just bet the farm on him.