Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr.’s NBA career is in jeopardy after he was arrested last week. He was charged with assault and strangulation after an incident in a New York hotel on September 11th. The incident involved his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick.
It didn’t take long after the news of the allegations became public that the Rockets announced they were looking to trade Kevin Porter Jr. It is fair to ask yourself what team would want to make a deal centered around someone whose NBA career is likely over.
Alas, interested teams aren’t looking to acquire him to add to the roster. Instead, it would be a procedural move to help clear some space on their roster and money off their salary cap. The Rockets are going to move on from Kevin Porter Jr. one way or another, it is just a matter of when and how.
Two teams are worth keeping an eye on as trade partners for the Rockets. As shared by Anthony Amador of Its Game 7, the Miami Heat and New York Knicks would make a lot of sense as suitors in a trade.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr, New York Knicks & Miami Heat Updates
The Heat have been looking to move on from Duncan Robinson and his exorbitant contract pretty much since he signed the five-year, $90 million deal. Since signing that deal, he has lost his starting spot and was glued to the bench for times out of the rotation.
This would be an opportunity to move off of that contract, getting some draft capital in return. Miami knows how this situation goes as they did something similar with Meyers Leonard in 2021, trading him with a second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Trevor Ariza, who wasn’t with the team at the time.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr, New York Knicks & Miami Heat Updates
Another team to keep an eye on is the New York Knicks. They could send Evan Fournier and his expiring contract back to Houston in exchange for Porter and draft capital. Fournier is someone that could actually be of use for the Rockets as a veteran floor spacer on a young team.
The Knicks would subsequently release Porter while adding to their cache of draft capital. A roster spot would be opened up and some cap space as well, which is important in their chasing of a star on the trade market
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