The Toronto Raptors have a roster logjam on their hands, which means that one of their veteran players could be sent away. After playing just eight games due to injury, free agent signing Otto Porter Jr. could be one of the unlucky souls who gets the boot out of town by Masai Ujiri.
The Raptors now have 15 fully guaranteed contracts on the roster, as Garrett Temple signed a one-year contract. Due to his contract and injury history, the Raptors might try to offload Porter in order to find someone who is either cheaper, healthier, or both (ideally).
The Raptors might need to get rid of one of either Porter or Thad Young, and OPJ might have a better chance of being a high-end contributor for a playoff team. After all, he is just one year removed from playing a very important role on a Warriors team that won a championship.
Despite the fact that Porter has been regarded as a large negative trade asset throughout his Raptors career, Toronto should still try to see if there are any takers out there for him. One of these three teams could be willing to flip a pick over to the Raptors for Porter.
3 teams who could trade for Raptors’ Otto Porter Jr.
3. Washington Wizards
Everything is for sale in Washington, as Michael Winger is willing to get rid of everything that isn’t nailed down as he tries to remake the squad in his own image. That desire could help them try to bring back Porter, a Georgetown alum picked No. 3 overall in 2013.
If the Raptors attach a second-round draft pick to Porter’s contract, they might be able to convince Washington to take him on. Porter can still shoot at a well above-average clip when healthy, and Davis Bertans being traded away last season helped create a hole that Porter could help fill.
Will the Washington Wizards get Otto Porter Jr?
Porter can still shoot and play multiple positions. While those traits are still things that Toronto could benefit from, it will be tough to envision a scenario in which they could give him rotation time without taking time away from Gradey Dick, Precious Achiuwa, or Jalen McDaniels.
The Wizards may not love to have Porter, but they would likely prioritize the draft pick. Getting a lottery ticket player like Porter, who could help stabilize the rotation and give some mentorship to what is still a very young team, might be worth an investment.
2. New York Knicks
The Knicks have quickly stepped on the accelerator, as the signing of Jalen Brunson helped take them from a mildly interesting play-in team into an Eastern Conference force. The back end of their roster could still use another veteran addition for a coach like Tom Thibodeau, who is often distrusting of young players.
The Knicks have plenty of future picks they need to part with, and the front office is willing to make aggressive moves when needed. Porter may not be star that fans wanted, but he could make for a nice, experienced backup on New York’s ever-changing bench.
Can the New York Knicks land Otto Porter Jr?
Obi Toppin has been traded to the Pacers, and all signs point to Evan Fournier eventually getting his wish to be moved somewhere else. With Derrick Rose also on his last legs in the NBA, New York’s depth could be tested next season by a competitive division.
Porter, when his knees and feet are willing to cooperate, seems like the type of player that Thibodeau has often leaned on. The Raptors might come to regret this move if he plays well with New York, but the rotation time in 2023 appears to be getting slimmer for him.
1. Miami Heat
The Heat play a very similar style to Toronto, albeit with some better postseason results over the last few years. As a result, the Heat could target a player like Porter. If Jaime Jaquez is either traded or not ready to contribute as a rookie, OPJ might be a solid backup small forward.
While Miami is clearly focused on landing Damian Lillard, they could get the Raptors on the horn after most of the legwork is done. As part of a smaller, separate deal or an ancillary part of the Lillard mega move, the Heat could find some way to help Porter start anew in Miami.
Will the Miami Heat acquire Otto Porter Jr?
The Heat not only have a history of adding players who could defend multiple positions, but they also have shown to take marginal role players and make them someone who could contribute to a championship team. Porter might become a “Heat Culture” All-Star very quickly.
Porter needs to be in a very specific role to make the most use of his talents, and the Raptors may not be able to do that in what looks like a very chaotic year. The relative stability of Erik Spoelstra’s Heat could give both parties a fresh start apart from one another.