Ryan Aston’s pick – Otto Porter
Despite potential unavailability, J-Notes point man Ryan Aston is fully on the Otto Porter train.
Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis may have proclaimed that they’re not looking to deal any of their core pieces, but Otto Porter continues to draw interest from teams around the Association, including the Jazz.
For my part, I’m going to keep beating the Porter-to-Utah drum. Inevitably, the Wiz will have to shed that massive contract and the Jazz are in the unique position as a team to both A) absorb his contract and B) give him a fighting chance to earn it.
As a fit on the court, few players are as mouth-watering as a trade target than Porter.
His raw numbers may be down slightly this season, but they’re still super solid — he’s putting up 13 points, six boards and 1.6 steals per contest, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from distance.
Consider that production with the fact that he’s still just 26 and boasts a 7-foot-1 wingspan and it’s not hard to envision him coming to Utah, ditching the wings for the frontcourt and growing into that high-level playmaking four that the Jazz so desperately covet.
Per Basketball Reference’s position estimate, he’s spent a career high 37 percent of his minutes at the power forward spot this season; a full-time switch wouldn’t be much of a leap in this day and age.
In Washington’s Saturday night bout with the Milwaukee Bucks, Porter scored 18 points, grabbed seven boards and nabbed four steals. It’s the kind of line you could see him putting up on the regular for a good team with a coach like Quin Snyder who can accentuate his strengths as a player.
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