NBA Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline: Predictions for 2024 Buyout Candidates | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Emily Baldwin Otto Porter Jr. played a key supporting role on the Golden State Warriors' run to the 2021-22 title. Since then, he's been in a near-constant battle with the injury bug, continuing an unfortunate career theme for the No. 3 pick of the 2013 draft.
This season, he managed to make just 15 appearances for the Toronto Raptors, who routed him to the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline. He is, however, reportedly "fully healthy and ready to play" now, per The Athletic's Tony Jones, who shared that Porter has "returned home to evaluate his options for the remainder of the season."
That doesn't necessarily mean a buyout is imminent, but given Utah's forward-focused deadline activity, it doesn't seem real likely Porter will suit up in Salt Lake City. However, this could come down to how much of his $6.3 million salary he's willing to sacrifice in a buyout.
Should he hit the open market, he could draw interest from a number of contenders—provided, of course, they are confident in his health. When he has made it to the hardwood in recent seasons, he's still the same shape-shifting defender who can mostly hold up against any of the three frontcourt positions while adding modest offensive value as a shot-maker and willing passer.
Porter fits in plenty of places—a return to Golden State seems feasible—but the Los Angeles Clippers might offer him the best opportunity in terms of both contending for a title and filling a somewhat regular role. He may not handle nightly minutes in Hollywood, but if he's healthy, he could give them a lot of the frontcourt flexibility and three-and-D play they hoped to squeeze out of P.J. Tucker.
Prediction: Porter signs with the Clippers.
Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on X, @ZachBuckleyNBA.