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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2022 Free Agents - Otto Porter, Jr.
Summary
After cashing in on a 4-year, $106 million contract in 2017, Porter was unable to live up to that contract. In his first season after signing that deal, Porter played 77 games for the Wizards and shot 45% from three, but after that he did not play like the high-level 3-and-D player that the Wizards hoped he would be.
While his shooting numbers were still really good during that time, he wasn't a high-volume guy and defenses didn't exactly treat him like a great shooter. He has also struggled with health, only playing in 14 games in the '19-'20 season. Porter looked better in '20-'21, moving better and hitting 39% from three.
I said prior to the season that Porter could be this year's Nic Batum, and while he didn't quite reach that level, I thought it still played out pretty accurately. Porter has fit in well with the Warriors, and was in their playoff rotation, including moving to the starting lineup in the Finals. He shot well from every area of the court, including 38% from three (regular season and playoffs combined), leading to a well above-average eFG% of 57.1%.
Porter isn't someone that can create off the bounce, and isn't really a playmaker, but you can trust him to hit shots and finish off of cuts if you have enough creation around him. He also gets steals and has the size to guard multiple positions. Porter still has good size for a wing and can hit shots at a good rate, so if he can stay healthy he can be a solid rotational wing, even if he's not seen as a starting-level player anymore.
Cap Considerations
Porter will be an unrestricted free agent with a $1.8 million cap hold and Non-Bird Rights. This means that the highest starting salary the Warriors could offer him using the Non-Bird Exception is $3.4 million.
Alternatively, the Warriors could use their $6.4 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception to re-sign Porter if he demands more than $3.4 million. However, Porter may even get offers bigger than that from other teams. If the Warriors re-sign Porter on a one-year deal, they would have his Early Bird Rights in 2023 and be able to give him a bigger contract.
Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Porter as even teams without cap space could likely use the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Room MLE or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him.
Potential Teams: Warriors, Kings, Pacers, Pelicans, Timberwolves
Predicted Contract: 2-year, $6.4 million (2nd-year player option) with the Warriors
Actual Contract: 2-year, $12.4 million (2nd-year player option) with the Raptors
I thought Porter might take a discount to stay in Golden State, but instead he ended up in Toronto on a solid contract.
Last updated: 7/3/2022
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