There was a good reason Michael Porter Jr. looked mighty comfortable in Denver three days before the NBA deadline.
If the Nuggets want to make a big deal ahead of the Thursday afternoon deadline, Porter would almost certainly be involved. Nikola Jokic, who dialed up another triple-double with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, isn’t going anywhere. Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray can’t be moved after signing their respective contract extensions in September. That leaves Porter as the only player on the Nuggets’ roster who makes more than $9 million who could be moved.
That’s apparently something he doesn’t have to worry about.
“We’re not trading Michael Porter,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after his team beat New Orleans, 125-113, on Monday at Ball Arena. “So, I’m not touching base with anybody on that.”
Malone’s conversations with Porter have been about more meaningful parts of the game as it relates to the Nuggets’ success moving forward.
“I’m touching base with guys on better defense, better spacing, taking care of the ball,” Malone said.
Porter finished with 36 points on 22 field goal attempts and was perfect on five free throws. He made seven of the 12 3s he attempted and added seven rebounds, two assists and one block with just one turnover.
“Michael was great tonight,” Porter said. “I have to give him a lot of credit.”
Despite missing his first four shots, Porter got into double figures a little more than 10 minutes into the game and finished the first half with a team-high 20 points to go with six rebounds thanks to a four-point play and a couple of free throws late in the second quarter.
“I didn’t let that deter my aggressiveness,” Porter said of the inefficient start. “That was a positive. I think I got a lot of 3s by the way they were guarding our team.”
Porter hit his fourth and fifth 3-pointers in the third quarter and put Denver up 14 with his sixth early in the fourth. The seventh 3 of Porter’s night gave him his first 30-point game of the season. Many other teams would like that kind of offensive production, but Porter also believes he’s in Denver for the foreseeable future.
“As long as I’m here, I’m going to be here, and I’m going to be happy, and I’m going to play hard and try to be available and try to help win games,” Porter said. “If the day came where they wanted to trade me and they wanted to go a different direction, then I’ll be excited for the new opportunity, but it’s not something I think about at all. It’s nothing that I’m stressed about, anxious about. I let my agent have those conversations with our front office. From what I’ve heard, they’re not interested in moving me, but that can change. Regardless, I’m blessed to be able to play this game, and I’m blessed to be able to be here in Denver. I’m happy to be here, for sure.”
The last time Porter had a 30-point game was last March’s win over the Knicks. One more 3-pointer would’ve matched his career high in points and made 3s in a game, but it’s looking like he’ll have plenty more opportunities to record more career-highs in a Nuggets uniform.
“If there’s something coming, obviously, (general manager) Calvin (Booth) will talk with me, and I’m sure we’ll communicate with whatever players, but Michael is a really important piece,” Malone said. “Michael helped us win a championship.”
NUGGETS 125, PELICANS 113
What happened: Denver took a 10-point advantage to the second quarter and extended the lead to 68-50 at halftime. Trey Murphy III’s massive third quarter helped New Orleans close within eight to start the fourth, but the Nuggets held on to improve to 31-19 on the season.
What went right: The Nuggets dominated inside, finishing the night with a 60-38 advantage in points in the paint. New Orleans had no answer for Nikola Jokic, who made 8 of 10 shots inside the arc.
What went wrong: Pelicans kept it close by outscoring the Nuggets by 18 from 3-point range. New Orleans went 18 for 38 (47.4%) to Denver’s 12 for 33 (36.4%).
Highlight of the night: Trey Murphy III’s windmill finish off a lob from Zion Williamson early in the third quarter was the most impressive individual feat of the night. Michael Porter Jr.’s put-back dunk after an unsuccessful alley-oop attempt from Jamal Murray to Christian Braun was Denver’s best play of the night.
Up next: The Pelicans stay in Denver for Wednesday’s rematch at Ball Arena.
