Rockets show interest in Michael Porter Jr. for potential James Harden trade

The Houston Rockets have shown interest in rising star Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets as part of a potential James Harden trade, according to Mike Singer of the Denver Post. However, those talks have yet to gain any traction, according to his report on Tuesday night.

Because Porter is on his initial NBA contract, he’s only making $3.5 million in the 2020-21 season. As such, the Nuggets would have to trade significantly more salary than Porter in order to make a deal for Harden ($41.3 million) work within the league’s salary cap. Singer referenced guards Gary Harris and Will Barton as possibilities.

The Rockets have sought a “young franchise cornerstone” and significant draft compensation as part of any deal for Harden, and the University of Missouri product could potentially fit the first part of that criteria.

While Porter was the No. 14 pick in the NBA’s 2018 draft, he only fell to the back of the lottery due to concerns about his back. After missing the 2018-19 season due to surgery, Porter returned healthy for his 2019-20 rookie season and showed flashes of the form that had him as the nation’s top player in his high school class and a potential candidate to go No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, prior to the medical issues.

Now 22 years old, the versatile 6-foot-10 forward averaged 9.3 points (50.9% FG, 42.3% on 3-pointers) and 4.7 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game during the 2019-20 regular season with the Nuggets. In the playoffs at the “NBA bubble,” Porter’s numbers jumped to 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per game, and he was a key contributor to a Denver squad that advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

It isn’t yet clear what type of future draft and/or prospect compensation that Denver might be willing to attach to Porter in a potential deal for Harden. While the Nuggets aren’t on Harden’s preferred trade list, he’s under contract for at least two more years, which is why Houston is reportedly canvassing the entire NBA and not limiting themselves to the four teams (Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Miami, Milwaukee) of his choosing.

The 2020-21 regular season is scheduled to begin for both the Rockets and Nuggets on Wednesday night. As of now, Harden and Porter are each believed to be healthy and set to play for their current teams.

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