With the 2018 NBA Draft officially a week away, let’s take a closer look at an intriguing prospect: Michael Porter Jr. out of the University of Missouri.
Although he was pegged the number two recruit in the nation in 2017, there isn’t much to tell about Porter’s college career. He missed most of his freshman season, appearing in only three games because of a back injury that would also lower his draft stock. In the two contests he played in after returning from injury, Porter still did average 13 points and nine rebounds in just over 25 minutes per game.
What is unique about Porter is that no one really knows where he is going to get picked. There have been reports that indicate he could be taken anywhere between picks two through nine. The Sacramento Kings are interested in the small forward for his incredible ability to score and are considering selecting him, assuming DeAndre Ayton is off the board.
This may come as a surprise to some since Porter has been projected as more of a mid-lottery pick in most mock drafts, but a year ago he was supposed to be considered with the first overall selection before he injured himself.
His main strength is the combination of his frame and athleticism. At 6′ 10″ 215 lbs, Michael Porter has no problem taking advantage of his defenders on the offensive end using his body. He has been compared to Kevin Durant in that both are lengthy which allows them to score fluidly and more frequently.
It is no secret that Michael Porter is poised to break out in the league, that is if he can stay healthy. NBA executives are still wary of drafting Porter because of his injury history.
Teams tend to air on the side of caution when it comes to situations like these. Players in good physical condition are hot commodities for NBA franchises, not guys who are injury prone. A perfect example is Derrick Rose. Like Porter, Rose relied on his explosiveness to score which worked very well at the beginning of his career, becoming the youngest person to win the MVP Award at only 22 years old. Then, he tore his ACL and his body never recovered. D-Rose didn’t have the bounce that made him an elite player anymore and his career took a significant hit. Now, at only 29, he makes the veteran’s minimum as a bench player for the Timberwolves.
Porter could very well be worth the gamble, but there are so many questions surrounding the All-American that it becomes difficult to put trust in his potential alone. He recently canceled a multi-team workout, where organizations including the New York Knicks were prepared to get a closer look at the wing. However, he had to cancel because of a hip injury… what a surprise.
While it was reported that he is feeling better and that the MRI of his hip came back clean, Porter has failed to show teams around the league that he is capable of keeping himself in peak physical condition to be able to take the floor every night. In a grueling, 82-game NBA season where back-to-back contests aren’t uncommon, Porter is going to have to learn how to take care of his body if he wants to make it in the pros.
Personally, I think Porter is an excellent player who could make a positive impact on any organization, given that he stays healthy of course. His ability to play both sides of the ball puts him ahead of the pack in this draft class, and there aren’t many prospects that I would consider more valuable than him. In fact, Porter and DeAndre Ayton are the only players that I can say, without a doubt, will not be busts.
Porter is going to be picked in the lottery, but since only one team has his medical records and his injury history isn’t very appealing, it’s hard to say where.
