The Houston Rockets are working to trade Kevin Porter Jr. in the wake of the guard’s charges of felony assault and strangulation due to an alleged attack on his girlfriend, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Rockets have contacted multiple teams offering draft compensation as an incentive to trade for Porter Jr., who is slated to make $15.9 million next season.
“Those sources say the Rockets have contacted multiple teams offering draft compensation as incentive to receive Porter, who has the 2023-24 season slated for $15.9 million in Year 1 of a four-year, $82.5 million deal, with three non-guaranteed years,” Charania wrote. “In deal scenarios using Porter’s contract, the Rockets would be using his salary to target a player under contract who can play immediately and help the team, league sources said.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr., Houston Rockets Updates
Porter Jr. appeared in 59 games for the Rockets last season. He averaged 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 44.2% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 78.4% from the free-throw line. The lefty recorded nine double-doubles and one triple-double.
The 23-year-old Porter Jr. has career NBA averages of 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rockets. He signed a four-year, $63.4 million rookie-scale extension with Houston in October 2022.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr., Houston Rockets Updates
The Rockets are keeping all options open with the future of Porter Jr., a league source told Charania. Porter Jr. was released on $75,000 bail and is due back in court in Manhattan on October 16.
Houston went 22-60 last season. The franchise hired former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka as its new coach. The Rockets also signed Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green in free agency this offseason.
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