Brooklyn Nets, Restricted Free Agent Otto Porter Jr. Agree To Maximum Offer Sheet
With the Sacramento Kings’ two major free agency signings, the door opens for Sean Marks and the Brooklyn Nets to get into the Otto Porter Jr. sweepstakes.
The offer sheet Otto Porter Jr. agreed to with the Nets is a max-restricted free agency sheet, starting at $24 million and increasing to $28 million in the 2020–21 season. This will be the Nets’ fourth restricted free agency try, and the largest. Specific terms of the deal have not been disclosed yet, but Porter’s deal likely includes several clauses to deter Washington from matching. These include trade kickers, trigger dates for money and all kinds of traps that could make the Wizards at least consider not matching.
Otto Porter 2016–17 Stats:
13.4 points (51.6 field goal percentage, 43.4 3-point percentage), 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals
Fit:
Porter, if his offer sheet is not matched by the Wizards, will be the Nets’ default starting small forward. He will provide shooting to a team that was inefficient from deep all season. The 2016–17 season was a huge season of improvement for Porter, who solidified his role as a deadeye shooter with a developing game off the dribble.
In a more general sense, Porter fits the Nets’ ideals for their wing players. Porter is a solid defender with solid length. The Nets’ defense employs lots of switching, and Porter has the length and agility to cover multiple positions. Porter has been a solid defender in his four seasons, and will be tasked with defending Eastern Conference elite, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and now, Gordon Hayward. (I know. I just lumped Hayward with those two.)
With the Nets, Porter will have a much larger role compared to his role with the Wizards. Porter was essentially a third or fourth option on Washington, with much of his offense stemming from the drive-and-dish abilities of John Wall and the consistent shooting of Bradley Beal. On a Nets team lacking in elite talent, Porter could be the Nets’ best shooter, receiving passes from Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell. He will have to shoulder much more of an offensive load, rather than being a complementary player.
To Match or Not to Match?
So far, all indications make it seem like the Wizards will match the offer sheet drawn up by Sean Marks and the Brooklyn Nets. Chris Mannix of The Vertical reported the Wizards intend to match.
The Washington Wizards have until Saturday night to match the offer sheet to Porter, per the New York Post’s Brian Lewis. The Wizards are already capped out with or without Porter. They have signed Mike Scott and Jodie Meeks to luxury-tax friendly deals, knowing full well they would be paying the dreaded tax. For the Wizards, matching Porter may be their only option if they want to continue being a major player in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
For the Nets, Porter being matched would be their fourth restricted free agency deal that did not go their way. Tyler Johnson and Allen Crabbe were both matched last summer, and Donatas Motiejunas’ offer sheet was matched (then voided) mid-season. But, this strategy exemplifies what the Nets need to do to become more competitive. They have to take risks in restricted free agency.
If the offer sheet for Porter is matched, Brooklyn could move onto players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tim Hardaway Jr., JaMychal Green or Jonathon Simmons in the restricted free agent market. They could also use their cap space to absorb a large contract and acquire a pick or young player, a la the D’Angelo Russell acquisition. While Porter may have been the Nets’ free agency Plan A, they still have several options for improvement going forward.
Grade — Incomplete
While Otto Porter Jr. would be a great development for the Nets, the offer sheet could be matched. Still, it shows the Nets’ strategy in acquiring talent. If not matched, Porter would be a key starter for an upstart team with a surprising mix of young players and veterans. With an established scorer like Porter, Brooklyn could improve from its 20–62 record in 2016–17.
However, the decision of matching looms. The contract work and meetings with Otto Porter could be all for naught if Washington matches.
