The Michael Porter Jr. conundrum Nets face this summer as rebuild continues

Michael Porter Jr. is the best player on the rebuilding Nets, but also their biggest question.

He’s the only Net with a ring or to have played at an All-Star level. But at 27 and on an expiring deal, do they extend him this summer or deal him?

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What Nets GM Sean Marks wants is a mystery. For Porter himself, not so much.

“If it was up to me, I’d love to sign an extension with this franchise,” said Porter. “I feel like we mesh. We have great vibes, great energy in the locker room, and to be a part of something that’s building in a positive way, a positive momentum, that’d be awesome. I’d love to spend many years in Brooklyn, make this my home and build and watch this franchise take off, because we saw glimpses of it this year.

“There was a lot of positives. Front office-wise, they have the ability to make some moves and make us even better. If the goal is to win, which we all know it is, then I’d love to make this my home, and that’d definitely be a cool thing for sure.”

Nets center Nic Claxton (l.), Michael Porter Jr. (c.) and Day’ron Sharpe look on during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Porter joined Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown as the only players to average 24 points and seven rebounds this season, even after a slow finish and a hamstring injury.

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“Once All-Star break happened and I realized I wasn’t an All-Star, I had a little slippage in my focus, in my preparation,” said Porter. “That can’t happen regardless of what’s going on with the team and the record.”

Still, Porter has made known his desire to stick around. Marks has been more coy.

After trades selling high on Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, Marks could deal Porter to a contender in need of shooting.

“We spoke a little bit in the exit interview, me and Andy [Birdsong, assistant GM]. And me and Sean had a phone call,” said Porter. “But my job is to just make it clear I want to be here and let those guys know. And from there, it’s on them, whatever’s best for…

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Publish date : 2026-04-14 03:09:00

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