2 for 1! Thanks, Nuggets! The championship forward has become the team leader

Is it really true that the Nuggets hindered Porter Jr.?

In the past four games, Porter Jr. has been putting up stunning stats with 34.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per gameThis season so far, he averages 26.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, shooting 50.1% overall and hitting 3.7 three-pointers per game at a 40.3% accuracy rate. The Nets are currently ranked 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 6-18 record.

During this summer’s offseason, the Nuggets parted ways with Porter Jr., who had been with them for seven seasons (including the 2023 championship), trading him along with an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Nets in exchange for Cameron Johnson. The Nuggets currently hold an 18-6 record, second place in the West, with Johnson contributing 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

Due to his outstanding performance, Porter Jr.’s trade value has surged, and the Clippers have been the team most frequently linked to him. Recently, a U.S. media outlet proposed the following trade scenario:

The Clippers acquire Porter Jr.; the Magic get Cameron Thomas; and the Nets receive Jett Howard, Collins, Bogdanović, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick, and a 2032 first-round pick swap right.

The Clippers currently rank second to last in the West with a 6-19 record, averaging 111.6 points per game (27th in the league), 12.6 three-pointers made per game (21st), offensive efficiency of 114.3 (19th), and 23.6 assists per game (29th). Porter Jr.’s arrival would significantly boost their firepower and help relieve pressure on Harden and Leonard.

Of course, the Clippers’ troubles are not just due to poor offense; their defense is an even bigger disaster, ranking 28th in defensive efficiency at 120.3 and 27th in rebounds per game with 40.7, among other near-bottom stats.

In summary, the Clippers’ issues cannot be fully fixed by acquiring one or two players, but they must not give up and should fight hard to make the playoffs. Their unprotected first-round pick next year is held by the Thunder, so tanking would only benefit another team.

Considering that only about 30% of the season has passed, the Clippers still have a strong chance to at least reach the play-in tournament. However, relying on the current roster might lead to self-destruction, so if a trade is possible, they should not hesitate. Having already hit rock bottom, giving it their all might spark a turnaround.