Pistons go big in blockbuster trade proposal with Nuggets
Pistons go big in blockbuster trade proposal with Nuggets
On paper Porter Jr. is almost the perfect player for the Detroit Pistons, as he’s a big forward who is a good defender, can spread the floor with his shooting and can play either spot.
A starting five of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Michael Porter Jr. and Jalen Duren could be the start of something really special in Detroit and they’d have Porter locked up for three more seasons at least.
Yes, he’ll be making between $33 and 38 million per season in that time, but Detroit would be getting most of his prime years and not paying big bucks for a guy in his 30’s.
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The rub is that MPJ has missed a lot of games in his five-year career and it’s hard to count on him to be on the court, which is an issue the Pistons already have with a couple of their guys.
Porter Jr. missed his entire rookie season with injury and has played 55, 61, 9 and 62 games since.
That is really the only reason he’d even be available, as when he’s healthy, this guy can shoot the lights out, like in his second season when he averaged 19 a game while hitting 44.5 percent of his 3-point shots, or last season when he averaged 17.4 per game on a championship team while hitting 41.4 from long range.
He’s a proven playoff performer who has experience, the exact skillset the Pistons need and is on the same timeline as their core.
He’s an injury risk and it’s doubtful MPJ is ever going to be an Iron Man who plays 82 games, but the talent is definitely there and he would more or less complete the Pistons’ core, allowing them to fill out the rest of the roster with the right complementary role players.
Detroit would be giving up plenty of shooting, but between MPJ, Monte Morris and Joe Harris, they should be able to make it up and would be getting better defensively without Bogdanovic in there.
It’s a risk, but it’s the type of risk the Detroit Pistons should be looking to make if Porter Jr. becomes available and they can get him without giving up a part of their core.
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