Report: Nets could want two first-round picks for Michael Porter Jr.

The Brooklyn Nets are focused on winning as many games as they can prior to the conclusion of the 2025-26 NBA season while still developing the younger players on the roster. Prior to the February trade deadline, Brooklyn will have some decisions to make when it comes to the future, but there may be an idea on what they would want if they traded away their best player.

"Teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets are eyeing the future and will want draft compensation more than anything for their best players who could be available," NBC Sports' Dalton Johnson while discussing Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. and New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III. Johnson was attempting to address what the Golden State Warriors could do prior to the deadline regarding forward Jonathan Kuminga.

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"One league source speculated Trey Murphy’s price tag would cost giving the Pelicans three first-round picks, and two to the Nets for Michael Porter Jr., if either player is available," Johnson continued. At this point in the season, there hasn't been any reporting to suggest that the Nets would be more interested in trading away Porter than keeping him, but that won't stop other teams from pursuing him.

While there have been reports in the past about the Nets potentially having interest in Kuminga, that was prior to this season where he seems to have fallen out of favor with head coach Steve Kerr. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported in December that even though there was speculation that Brooklyn could trade for Kuminga, the organization never showed much trade interest in him.

Ultimately, if the Nets were going to trade Porter away, they would be doing so with an eye towards the future given that he could potentially get them more coveted draft picks that can be used for future moves. Porter, who could make his first All-Star appearance this season if the voting goes his way, is having the best season of his career with averages of 26.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field and 41.1% from three-point land.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Report: Nets could want two first-round picks for Michael Porter Jr.