© Ron Chenoy | 2021 Mar 19
Just when it was looking like they were going to strike out completely on the first day of free agency, the Warriors landed a player who should be a part of their rotation next year.
Golden State has reportedly agreed to a deal with veteran wing Otto Porter Jr. according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Porter, 28, is apparently being signed to a minimum deal after turning down the mid-level exception from at least one other team according to Haynes.
Sources: Otto Porter Jr. turned down the midlevel exception elsewhere to play for the Warriors at the minimum. https://t.co/CszqvrO37w
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 3, 2021
If Porter Jr. is healthy, it’s a great pickup. Porter, the No. 3 overall pick by the Wizards in 2013, is a 40.2 percent career 3-point shooter and is able to use his size to get to the rim against smaller defenders. That size has also made him a solid rebounder (5.0 per game) and defender at his position.
Staying on the floor hasn’t been a given for Porter recently, however. He played just 14 and 28 games in the last two seasons due to foot and back issues. He’s only appeared in more than 70 games in four of his eight NBA seasons. The last time he did that was in 2017-18 with the Wizards, when he averaged over 14 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 44.1 percent from deep.
The signing somewhat redeems what was looking like an awfully rough start to the free agency period for the Warriors. First top reported target Nicolas Batum re-signed with the Clippers. Then it was reported that Kent Bazemore signed with the Lakers for less money and less years than the Warriors offered because the role was more enticing. It also seems that the market for Kelly Oubre has shrunk, hurting the possibility that the Warriors could flip him in a sign-and-trade.
For a player who has made $125.8 throughout his career, getting Porter at the minimum seems like a steal. Now the Warriors have at least one solid move to build off of while still holding on to their mid-level exception.