Nets insider says quiet part out loud about top potential Spurs trade target

The rebuilding Brooklyn Nets could trade their best player, according to a new report by Erik Slater of the Third Apron podcast and Brian Lewis of the New York Post. That should be great news for the San Antonio Spurs. Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. had a breakout year last season, averaging 24.2 points while shooting 36.3% on 9.3 3-point attempts per game.

Brooklyn flirted with the idea of trading him last season but didn't ultimately pull the trigger on a trade. However, he is set to enter the final year of his contract and could be a valuable trade chip for the Nets and a valuable player to a contender.

The Spurs should be very interested given Porter Jr.'s shooting ability and size. He is also perhaps more affordable than other trade targets such as Trey Murphy III or Aaron Gordon. Despite that, acquiring him would mean the Spurs would have to part with several key players.

Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. would be a perfect fit for the Spurs

Porter Jr. might not have the best reputation off the court, but on the court he'd be a terrific fit. San Antonio has several very good shooters, but none with the shooting versatility of Porter Jr.

His unique combination of size and shooting ability would be a unique fit on the Spurs, allowing them to play both big and small at the same time. San Antonio also doesn't have a player who can shoot like he can, moving around screens.

Imagine pairing him with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama. Teams would be worried about stopping dribble penetration from Fox and Castle and doubling Wembanyama whenever he has the ball in the paint.

That would free Porter Jr up for plenty of open looks. That's all well and good, but what would he cost the Spurs?

The Spurs would have to sacrifice depth to acquire Michael Porter Jr.

A potential trade could see the Spurs ship out Keldon Johnson, Tobias Harris, and Harrison Barnes. Their combined salary would be almost identical to Porter Jr., allowing them to stay under the luxury tax.

Add in the Atlanta Hawks' 2027 first-round pick, and that could be a competitive deal, especially if ATL isn't particularly good next season. On paper, giving up Johnson and Harris would be potentially more costly given Johnson is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year.

Harris also seems like a perfect fit for the Spurs, even though he has yet to play a game. Then again, Johnson might be replaced by Carter Bryant in the rotation, while Porter Jr. could force Julian Champagnie to the bench, essentially replacing Harris.

There is one potential hang-up in a Porter Jr. -to-the-Spurs trade

The bigger potential hang-up is whether the Spurs could re-sign Porter Jr. beyond next season. He would almost certainly want a raise off of the $40 million he's set to make next season. That could result in at least a three-year deal worth north of $120 million.

Remember, Johnson and Barnes probably aren't going to return after next season while Harris is only on a two-year deal. Unless San Antonio were to trade Fox for Porter Jr., it might not be a realistic option at the moment.

Things can change. Fox could have a strong first half to next season, raising his trade value. That could make a Fox for Porter Jr. trade more viable, but we'll have to wait until late January or early February to see where things stand in potential trade between the Spurs and Nets.

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