Former NBA champion expected to hit the buy-out market

Otto Porter Jr. was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of the deal that sent Kelly Olynyk to the Toronto Raptors at the February 8 trade deadline. The former NBA champion has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons. 

According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Porter Jr. has returned to his hometown of Charlotte to "evaluate his options" despite being healthy and ready to play. As such, it's expected that he will accept a contract buyout from Utah, allowing him to find a new home around the league. 

“Utah Jazz forward Otto Porter Jr. has returned home to evaluate his options for the remainder of the season and will not be with the team Thursday night when the Jazz open the second half of their schedule against the Charlotte Hornets, league sources tell The Athletic,” Jones reported. “The 30-year-old Porter, whom the Jazz acquired two weeks ago when they traded Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji to the Toronto Raptors, is fully healthy and ready to play, according to league sources. His options include accepting a contract buyout from the Jazz, which would allow him to sign with another team. Porter would have to sign with another team by March 1 to be eligible to play in the postseason.”

Porter Jr. hasn't been at his best since winning a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2022. He's played 23 games since the start of the 2022-23 season. His value is arguably the lowest it's ever been. However, when healthy, Porter Jr. can be a reliable three-and-d wing. He's a career 39.7% shooter from three-point range and can score off the catch or via movement. 

The issue is that any team that signs him at this point in the season would likely be doing so to add depth and roster insurance. He's not going to be walking into a ready-made role for himself. That type of opportunity comes during the offseason or via trade.  

Nevertheless, multiple contending teams would likely be interested in Porter Jr. Yes, his injury history is concerning. But, at 30 years old, there is still plenty of upside left if he can remain healthy moving forward. 

Right now, the most logical route for Porter Jr. is to accept a contract buy-out and sign with a contender. From there, he needs to earn himself some minutes within his new team's rotation. It's not easy, but if he wants to stay in the NBA, he has to start showing he can still contribute at the highest level.