Latest news with #MichaelPorterJr
Yahoo
2 days ago
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Wisconsin women's basketball top 2026 target lists Badgers as a finalist
Wisconsin women's basketball top-ranked class of 2026 target, power forward Jayda Porter, included the Badgers in her list of finalists on Friday. The younger sister of NBA champion Michael Porter Jr., Jayda Porter narrowed her list to eight suitors. In addition to Wisconsin, that list includes Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Oregon, North Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. She is slated to officially visit Madison the weekend of Oct. 18. 247Sports considers the 6-foot-3 forward the No. 28 overall recruit in the class of 2026, the No. 9 power forward and the No. 2 player from her home state of Missouri. Here's what Brandon Clay, the outlet's director of scouting for women's basketball, wrote about Porter's basketball repertoire: "Porter has the size and skill to be a major factor on the interior. Her brothers, Jontay and Michael Jr., both made it to the NBA. Jayda has the bloodline coupled with the touch on offense to be a consistent shot maker from beyond the arc or in the post. That skill set keeps opposing defenders off balance and guessing. Porter's ability to rebound and protect the rim will also be a huge asset for her future college coach. Her game is already diversified at a young age." While both 247Sports and On3/Rivals have yet to note an offer from Wisconsin, the Badgers would certainly be thrilled to welcome the high-four-star recruit to Madison for her collegiate tenure. UW's 2026 offer sheet currently features seven undecided athletes with at least a four-star profile. While still early, On3/Rivals' recruiting prediction machine has yet to identify a clear frontrunner. As of July 26, Kansas, which was not named a finalist, boasts the highest likelihood to land Porter's commitment at 30%. The Jayhawks are followed by Nebraska (25.6%) and Oklahoma State (21.9%). A commitment from Porter would immediately emerge as first-year head coach Robin Pingeton's most significant recruiting victory during her brief tenure as the Badgers' leader. First, UW will need to tackle its 2025-26 slate with a revamped roster. Contact/Follow on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin women's basketball recruiting target Jayda Porter finalists
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cam Thomas Described As Empty Calories Ball Hog Amid Recent Contract Fiasco
Cam Thomas Described As Empty Calories Ball Hog Amid Recent Contract Fiasco originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is one of the most capable offensive players in the league. As a restricted free agent, the 23-year-old is due for a massive contract extension with the Nets. Unfortunately for him, there has been little to no movement on this front, and reportedly, there's good reason for the delay. NBA insider Zach Lowe recently shed light on Thomas' situation with the Nets and provided an update on how the guard is perceived by others around the league. He said: "The consensus on Cam Thomas, if there is one, and he's got some fans, and he's got some mega-detractors - but the consensus is kind of like Empty Calories Ball Hog." This doesn't bode well for Thomas, who is hoping to carve out a career for himself in the NBA. As a gifted scorer, the 23-year-old is possibly the best offensive player on Brooklyn's roster. When also factoring in the recent addition of Michael Porter Jr., along with the performances of the Nets' rookies in Summer League, Brooklyn could field an intriguing team next season. But it seems like Thomas' unwillingness to pass the ball has been viewed as a bit of a negative factor in this regard. This was also reflected in his stats last season, as the guard put up impressive averages of 24.0 points, followed by an underwhelming 3.8 assists per game. Regardless, the guard has displayed a lot of upside with his scoring, something the Nets may consider investing in. But given the lack of demand for Thomas' skill set around the league, Brooklyn may use the opportunity to present the 23-year-old with a qualifying offer instead of offering a max extension. As things stand, the qualifying offer for the Nets guard stands at $12.1 million for the next season. If he is to accept this, he can play things out and enter unrestricted free agency next summer. Naturally, this would be frustrating for the 23-year-old, who responded with an indirect jab at the organization on social media recently. The other reason why the Nets will hesitate with re-signing Thomas will be his constant run-ins with injury, particularly his hamstring. Following his most recent injury in March during a game against the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn has every reason to be concerned as well. The 23-year-old only played in 25 games last season, missing a large chunk of it in the process of recovering from other setbacks during the season. With the hamstring injury in March causing him to sit out the remainder of the season, the Nets front office has taken stock of the situation at hand. As things stand, there is no certainty that the Nets will offer an extension to Thomas. But should the guard return to the roster, Brooklyn would only see a marginal improvement to their roster. With very limited prospects for the upcoming season, it is far more likely for the Nets to be a lottery team again. In many ways, it could be possible for the team to get weaker as they pursue additional trades in the story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Fans React To Brooklyn Nets' Current Depth Chart: "Might Win 10 Games Next Year"
NBA Fans React To Brooklyn Nets' Current Depth Chart: "Might Win 10 Games Next Year" originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Brooklyn Nets have officially entered the chaos era, and NBA fans are having a field day with their current depth chart. With a roster that looks more like a G League experiment than an NBA contender, Brooklyn's depth chart has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. Fans across social media were left stunned, confused, and downright hysterical over the group the Nets are rolling out. Here's the current depth chart: Point Guard: Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf Shooting Guard: Cam Thomas, Keon Johnson, Dariq Whitehead Small Forward: Tre Mann, Drake Powell, Jalen Wilson Power Forward: Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Drew Timme Center: Nic Claxton, Danny Wolf The Nets also declined to extend Day'Ron Sharpe his $5.98 million qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. The front office hopes to re-sign him using cap flexibility, but nothing is guaranteed. Ziaire Williams re-signed, Cam Thomas is expected to return as a restricted free agent, and the acquisition of Michael Porter Jr. in the Cam Johnson trade with Denver gives the Nets a new scoring option. But that's where the optimism ends, for fans, anyway. Once the depth chart hit the internet, reactions came flooding in. One fan summed up the collective despair: "Might win 10 games next year." Another chimed in with a scathing critique of the team's makeup: "Absolutely zero ball movement on this team." Fans also pointed out the timing of the Nets' decline. "They tanked one season too late," wrote another, referencing the team missing out on a stronger draft class. Then the gloves came off. "This team is a joke." "This is a competitive WNBA team." "When did Brooklyn get a G League squad?" "Definitely a fun League Pass team, if you like chaos." One fan even joked that something more sinister was at play: "Gambling scheme going on with this team. FBI needs to investigate this sh*t." And perhaps the most brutal of all came from someone comparing the Nets to the NBA's perennial punchline: "The new Wizards." To be fair, there are some bright spots. Michael Porter Jr. has the talent to be a 20-point scorer if healthy, and Nic Claxton remains a legitimate defensive anchor at center. Cam Thomas, when re-signed, can light it up for 30 on any given night. Egor Demin, the 6'9' Russian guard, and Nolan Traore, a flashy Frenchman, provide intriguing upside. But this is a roster built on maybes, not a single All-Star, not a proven leader, and not much playoff experience. The Nets' strategy clearly prioritizes youth and flexibility, but it has left fans wondering if the team is even trying to compete in 2025–26. With the Eastern Conference improving around them, it's no wonder the consensus is bleak. Unless major moves are made soon, Brooklyn might be on the fast track to a 10-win season or story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
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Michael Porter Jr. And Cam Johnson Could Swap Houses After They Were Traded For Each Other
Michael Porter Jr. And Cam Johnson Could Swap Houses After They Were Traded For Each Other originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Johnson swapped teams this offseason, and they might end up swapping homes as well. In a video uploaded on his Curious Mike YouTube channel, Porter revealed he and Johnson have spoken about potentially staying at each other's former homes. 'It's crazy cause Cam and I are actually boys," Porter said. "We're pretty cool. We're even having talks of swapping homes. He might stay in my crib in Denver. I might stay where he lived in Brooklyn." Porter had spent the first seven seasons of his professional career with the Denver Nuggets after they selected him with the 14th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He had played an integral role in the franchise winning its first championship in 2023, but has now been shipped out of town two years later. The Nuggets sent Porter and their 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Johnson. They managed to get a quality player in return at a much cheaper rate. Porter will be paid $79.1 million over the next two seasons, while Johnson is only owed $44 million in that time. Porter has finished his Nuggets career with averages of 16.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. The 27-year-old's tenure ended on a bad note as he struggled massively during the 2025 playoffs (9.1 points per game on 39.2% shooting from the field) due to a shoulder injury. You wonder if the Nuggets would have kept Porter had he played up to his standards. The injury and his resulting poor play made him the obvious candidate to be traded. Porter wasn't feeling too down when he got the news, though, as he shared his reaction to the trade with reporters on Sunday. "I flipped the script in my head pretty quick," Porter said. "Honestly, I'm not like a super anxious guy or anything like that. So on the plane, when I found out, I kind of just like, 'Well, I'm traded,' and kinda just took a nap afterwards. I'm excited to be here, though. I love Denver, I love my time there, but I'm excited for this new chapter.' Porter is also reuniting with one familiar face in Brooklyn in head coach Jordi Fernandez. Fernandez was an assistant coach for the Nuggets from 2016 to 2022, and that should make the transition easier. As for Johnson, he'll now get to play on a contender for the first time since his tenure with the Phoenix Suns. The 29-year-old averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Nets in 2024-25. Johnson has shot 39.2% from beyond the arc for his career and will be a good fit on the Nuggets. They have also acquired Jonas Valanciunas via trade and landed Bruce Brown Jr. and Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency. With these moves, the Nuggets look set to be one of the biggest challengers to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025-26. They took the Thunder to seven games in the Conference Semifinals this year despite battling injuries and would be fancying their chances to topple the champions should they meet again in the playoffs in story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michael Porter Jr. After Nuggets Traded Him: My Ceiling In Denver Had Plateaued
Michael Porter Jr. After Nuggets Traded Him: My Ceiling In Denver Had Plateaued originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Free agency moratorium hit the NBA world like a storm. One of the first moves that was announced during the moratorium was that the Nuggets had traded Michael Porter Jr to the Nets for Cam Johnson. The 27-year-old sharpshooter was on his way to Capri, Italy, when he found out about this news. A few days after the trade was announced, Porter Jr. released an 11-minute-long video on YouTube with an emotional farewell message for the Nuggets organization. However, while he was thanking the team and recalling his best days with them, he made a surprising admission in the video. As the new Nets player recalled how the Nuggets' head coach Mike Malone "threw him in the fire" during his rookie year in the Playoffs, he moved on to speak his mind about his "next chapter" in Brooklyn. 'I'm really excited for this next chapter out here in Brooklyn. I think over there in Denver, I felt like my ceiling had kind of plateaued. Um, you know, we have a very---we just have a way of playing, you know, and how Joker plays, how Jamal plays, that two-man game is very potent. And you know that's how we play, and I'm so appreciative of the way we play. We end up winning a championship. But I do feel like my ceiling in Denver kind of plateaued a little bit, and I'm excited for this next chapter in Brooklyn for sure.' It is rather surprising to hear him admit that he felt his future was not very bright and "plateaued" with the team that he won a championship with. However, it is important to observe the pattern that in the past three seasons with the Nuggets, his averages were always in the range of 16 to 18 points per game. Potentially the plateau he was referring to. While talking about Cam Johnson, Porter Jr had some kind words to say about him as well. 'It's crazy cause Cam and I are actually boys. We're pretty cool. You know, we're even having talks of swapping homes. You know, he might stay in my crib in Denver. I might stay where he lived in Brooklyn. Obviously, Denver got a great player and a great dude, and I'm excited for him to be able to finally, you know, compete for a championship over there, and I myself am excited to expand my game and be able to do what I do.' Michael Porter Jr played for the Denver Nuggets for 6 seasons after they drafted him No. 14 in 2018. He averaged 16.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in the 345 regular-season games he played for them. Now, he's joining the Nets as a veteran on the young roster. He brings his championship experience to the table for the Nets and could make leaps in his own game, potentially being the No. 1 option in scoring there. At age 27, Porter Jr should ideally be in the prime of his career. However, injuries have plagued his career, forcing a player who could've potentially been the No. 1 pick in 2018 to resort to playing as the third option in Denver. Now having the task to bring a championship culture to a young team like the Nets, will Porter Jr finally meet his potential and take the All-Star leap next season? Let us know what you think in the comments story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
