LeBron James shocked the basketball world Friday by choosing the Philadelphia 76ers rather than the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers or Minnesota Timberwolves. As late at Thursday night, CBS Sports had put Philly at No. 5 among the five suitors but James saw them as the team best prepared for a championship run with holdovers Joel Emhiid, Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe as well as newcomers Jaylen Brown and Dean Wade.
For the Nets, there doesn’t seem to be any direct effect. They still rebuilding and the decision seems little more than a reshuffling of those above them in now increasingly top heavy East. In addition to James and Brown joining Philly, Giannis Antetokounmpo moved from Milwaukee to Miami and Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers back to the Toronto Raptors. Not to mention, the New York Knicks are the defending NBA champions. ESPN ranks the Nets at 29th in their post-LeBron power ranking, putting only the Bucks behind them.
It does seems likely that the 76ers pick in 2028, protected 1-through-8, will be transferred to Brooklyn, but it’s also likely to be very low. James contract is two years at the vets minimum with the second year, 2027-28, a player option.
Where things might be get interesting is what the spurned suitors do going forward. Do they try to fill in the blanks left open by James and try to acquire another big scorer like Michael Porter Jr., who’s looking for a big extension in Brooklyn. The question is whether Sean Marks and MPJ’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, can reach an agreement and if not, will Bartlelstein push to move Porter Jr. elsewhere.
Brooklyn also has all those draft assets should any of the suitors decide that without James, it’s time to rebuild. But the most likely repercussion revolves around Porter Jr. as Brian Lewis summarized.
Michael Porter Jr. believes in Brooklyn’s future.
The question is whether he’ll be a part of it.
Will the Nets extend him?
Or trade him?
MPJ has fully insinuated himself into the Nets rebuild. Averaging 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists last year, he also established himself as a premier shotmaker. More than that, though, he assumed the role of leader of the team, not just taking the Flatbush 5 under his wing, even hosting them at the Lake of the Ozarks in his native Missouri and at the very least acting like he’s recruiting Denver Nuggets free agent Peyton Watson to Brooklyn. Moreover, he’s said all the right things about the Nets’ future.
“We had five rookies, the youngest team in the NBA. It was a completely different role that I had. But it was something that I cherished,” Porter told ESPN at last weekend’s FanFest in New York. “I think we’re building something special over there.”
Last Wednesday in Las Vegas,Marks was clear in saying that the organization wants Porter around.
“I’m sure we’ll have those discussions. We’ve got time; there’s no immediate hurry right now with Mike. We value him a lot. He had a terrific year last year, arguably his best year as a pro,” Marks said. “It’s been great to see what Mike’s done for us, so I look forward to having those discussions…
“That would certainly be something we’re going to have that optionality,” said Marks. “Any time you’re in a hurry, that’s when people make mistakes. I don’t think we want to do anything hastily or in a rush … We’re just going to have those discussions between the two of us and our representatives and go from there.”
Bartelstein seemed more skeptical.
“Sean and I have talked. Michael loves it in Brooklyn. Jordi [Fernández] has been great for him. I think Jordi has been so innovative in how he’s used Michael. I think it’s a great fit,” Bartelstein said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“But that’s something that Sean and I have to sit down and talk about. The Nets have to ultimately chart out their course for the way they want to go forward. Obviously, we got to do the same thing for Michael. If we can make it work where there’s a long-term fit, that would be awesome. But that’s something we’re going to be talking about here in the days ahead.”
The 6’10” forward has been eligible since June 19 for a four-year, $234 million extension although most pundits think that a more reasonable deal could be at the same length but about $60 million less for the 28-year-old. Another possibility being bandied about is for the Nets to give Porter an immediate $9 million raise on his $40.8 million expiring salary then extend him at lower numbers, as they did with Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson. A deal like that would make him even more valuable at the trade deadline, as Lewis noted.
Suppose the two sides don’t reach an agreement and he goes on the trade market? What could the Nets get for MPJ? More draft picks? Better ones? And from who? Steve Kerr, Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor wrote Thursday, wasn’t interested in Porter last year and is unlikely to want to change his mind now. The Pistons were also rumored as a suitor last season, but they’re all tied up with Jalen Duren’s free agency.
Also, it should be clear by now that the Nets are unlikely to make any big moves that will deprive them of future assets. They know they aren’t contenders. The plan is not the sixth or seventh seed. Win instead of tank, sure, but the LeBron move just reemphasizes where they sit. So they’d rather save assets, perhaps till the February deadline if not later. The rebuild is long. There’s no urgency.
There are other possibilities as well. The Nets still have around $12 million in cap space which they can use to give MPJ that raise or pay the yet unsigned Moe Wagner or sign him to the room exception. in extending MPJ. He’s eligible for it through next July when his current contract runs out. And there’s always surprises like LeBron James choosing Philly over South Beach.
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