MPJ likely be Nets’ first big decision following draft, says Bobby Marks

Bobby Marks (no relation, as we occasionally note) has an analysis of key decisions lottery teams will have to make beyond the NBA Draft at the end of June.

After the celebratory press conferences after the draft, Starting at noon on July 6, teams will be able to sign their own free agents as well as other free agents. It, along with the Draft, is also when Sean Marks does his best work. Indeed, Marks has made a trade, often a big one, within 48 hours either side of the Draft in nine of the 10 years he’s been Nets GM.

Bobby Marks believes that the Nets big decision in that timeframe will be whether to extend Michael Porter Jr. beyond next season when he will earn $40.8 million and at what price.

Porter’s first season in Brooklyn — Denver sent the forward and a 2032 unprotected first-round pick to the Nets for Cameron Johnson this past July — has featured a career-high 24.2 points per game and a fourth straight season of better than 36% 3-point shooting.

And prior to a strained left hamstring suffered March 19, Porter had missed just 14 games since the 2023-24 season, a trend in the right direction after injuries hampered him early in his career.

His impact on the court, durability and age — Porter will turn 28 in June — should warrant discussions on a new contract. He will be eligible to sign a four-year, $234 million deal.

Those figures — both the total money and length of the contract — are the maximum the Nets can pay MPJ. It seems highly unlikely Brooklyn will him at that level, as Yossi Gozlan told us last month.

“In reality I think he’s looking at something in the 20-25% of the salary cap range.” Gozlan told ND, citing the lack of competition for him. “As great as he’s been, he’s not going to replicate this production elsewhere since any good team that acquires him probably makes him their second or third option. I could see him getting something closer to four years, $160 million, but it’s way too early to project his next contract.“

And in these times, his podcast misadventures aren’t going to help his cause. For the record, the projected salary cap for 2027-28 is going to be around $174 million, meaning a starting salary around $44 million.

If history is any judge, the contract talks are likely to be amicable. Twice in the last four years, the Nets had big decisions on two other key players – Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson – that got done early. In both cases, they got contracts that were front-loaded, giving Sean Marks & co. more cap space and leverage in the future.

There seems little doubt the two sides want to make a deal, at least as of now. The Nets had multiple opportunities to at least talk trade around Porter before the February 5 deadline but chose not to, letting other teams know they saw the 6’10” shot-maker as part of their master plan going forward. For his part, Porter has said all the right things about the organization, calling Jordi Fernandez a “genius” and praising the team’s professionalism.

Bobby Marks also lays out some draft strategy and lists of 2026 free agents beyond MPJ.

It’s important to note that Brooklyn has no incentive to tank next season, as Houston has the right to swap first-round picks in 2027. Brooklyn will enter free agency with a high lottery pick and could have between $45 million and $55 million in cap room heading into free agency.

Free agents: Ochai Agbaji (restricted), Josh Minott ($2.6 million team option), Day’Ron Sharpe ($6.3 million team option), Ziaire Williams ($6.3 million team option), Jalen Wilson (restricted), EJ Liddell (restricted), Tyson Etienne (restricted), Chaney Johnson (restricted)

Of course, things are subject to change and judging by Sean Marks’ calendar, we may not have to wait too long for things to change.

• NBA draft: One big question facing every lottery team’s offseason ($) – Bobby Marks – ESPN