Heat, Blazers join the Kevin Porter Jr. chase

Kevin Porter Jr. went from cut to courted in about 3 weeks. Sunday night the list of interested teams doubled.

Jake Fischer

@JakeLFischer

After Sacramento gained flexibility to add a point guard with today’s Nique Clifford trade to OKC, we can add Miami and Portland as teams who’ve shown interest in Kevin Porter Jr., per sources, along with the Kings and Nuggets. More here: t.co/uLRGidugcz

Marc Stein

@TheSteinLine

Direct from press row in Dallas: The Sunday Best around-the-NBA notes from @JakeLFischer and me have gone LIVE. No waiting ‘til late night on a Sunday that delivered a rare November trade. Full column on Nique Clifford-to-OKC and all the ramifications: t.co/G0BKjxpQ3W t.co/iXKo9zjfN4

The important detail is that this isn't a trade market. The Bucks waived Porter before the roster cutdown deadline and ate his $5.39MM cap hit, so he's an unrestricted free agent. Nobody has to give anything up to get him. A team just needs an open roster spot and the stomach for the fit.

Milwaukee had the chance to get something back. Denver offered Zeke Nnaji, 2 future second-round picks and a second-round swap for Porter, and the Bucks said no because they didn't want to take on Nnaji's $7.47MM player option for 2027-28. That was the moment the Nuggets showed their hand, and they're still in the mix now that he costs nothing but a contract.

Sacramento's interest is easier to explain. Ben Simmons tore his Achilles in practice back in October, and that took out the guy the Kings planned to have running the offense. They called about Porter while he was still on Milwaukee's roster, and Sunday's deal gave them a way to actually make a move.

That's the rare November trade in question. The Kings sent Clifford to the Thunder for 2 second-rounders, Utah's in 2028 and Minnesota's in 2030, and took no player back. Clifford was out of the rotation, playing 6.3 minutes a game across 8 games. Sacramento is now at 13 standard contracts, has 14 days to fill the open spot, and has a little more breathing room under the tax line. Porter fits that spot pretty neatly.

As for the player, Porter put up 17.4 points and 7.4 assists a night in Milwaukee last season, but he shot 32.2% from 3. He's a bench creator who can carry a second unit for stretches, not a guy you hand the keys to. That works for Miami, which has spent years turning cheap guards into real rotation pieces. Portland is a stranger fit, and that's exactly why it stands out.

The Kings have the clearest need and a roster spot opening on a 2-week clock, so they look like the team to beat. If Miami or Portland makes a real offer before then, Porter gets to pick where he signs.