Even though the Orlando Magic landed outside the top five in the NBA Draft Lottery, they may find a potential star in Michael Porter, if he can stay healthy.
Michael Porter Jr. arrived to the Missouri Tigers with NBA aspirations. He was the second-ranked recruit in ESPN’s recruiting database and looked to use one strong season with the Tigers to propel him to become a top-five pick in the NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, Porter underwent spinal surgery after playing for just two minutes in the season opener. He would not return until the SEC Tournament, and even then it was clear he was not 100 percent healthy.
Although he played in Missouri’s final games, many are unsure about Porter’s long-term health.
This has seen his Draft stock take a significant hit. Porter was in the conversation prior to the season as a top pick, now many pundits are unsure if he will be a top-10 selection come Draft night. ESPN’s Mock Draft show had him slipping out of the Lottery.
Yet Porter has superstar potential. A 6-foot-10 forward with an outside shot seems to be the prototype for a modern NBA star.
The Orlando Magic sit with the sixth pick and will likely have the chance to select Porter. He would be an interesting fit for Orlando. Another athletic wing who would jumpstart the Magic’s starting lineup into the modern NBA.
But Porter could also send the Magic back down a dark path. If he cannot stay healthy or has nagging back issues, it could cause Orlando to start another rebuild. It could also be a repeat of Anfernee Hardaway and Grant Hill with their history of injuries. Magic fans can almost feel success, but it is suddenly dashed by injury.
The Magic will have to weigh the boom-or-bust potential when it comes to Porter on Draft night.
The Good
Michael Porter Jr. has the tools to become a scoring machine. He has the skills of a guard and the jump shot to go along with it. He is a walking mismatch.
Forwards are not tall enough to contest his jump shot and centers are too slow-footed to stay on him on the perimeter.
The rare combination of size and a perimeter-centric game have everyone drooling over what could be with Porter.
Out of high school, Porter was praised for his refined shooting ability. Whether a catch-and-shoot situation or a pull-up jumper, Porter was knock down. He never had the chance to prove the scouts right as he shot just 33 percent from the field and 30 percent from three in his handful of games.
Porter’s shooting stroke is mechanically sound as well. It should not hinder his success at the NBA level. His high release will allow him to shoot over most defenders.
His strong ability from the outside allows him openings closer to the rim. Porter is not one to drive and play above the rim. But he has the ability to beat defenders and get to the rim if they are too concerned with his outside shot.
Porter is crafty on drives and has a soft touch. Rather than throw down, Porter uses his length to either draw a foul of finish around defenders.
Porter is not an athletic freak by any means, but he has the quickness and length not only be a mismatch on offense.
In today’s NBA where switching is key, Porter has the tools to be a strong defender. With the height to guard fours, but the agility to cause problems for quicker guards.
Although Porter is not overly physical, he did make his presence felt on the glass snagging just shy of seven boards per contest last season at Missouri.
The Bad
Porter’s back injury is by far his biggest concern. If teams are not sold on his bill of health, he will fall to the middle of the first round.
Teams will have the chance to host Porter for a workout, so if he can prove to medical staffs he is good to go, Porter may see his Draft stock rise again. For now, he is just a giant question mark.
Even with a clean bill of health from team doctors, he will be a mystery until he suits up.
Porter’s offensive game is one of the strongest in the class. But he has the tendency to chuck. This may not mean pulling up from way downtown, but he loves to freeze ball movement and try to force the action on offense. This could be the effects of being a go-to guy all his life. But it won’t fly in the next level.
On the court, his defense is a major question mark. At times, Porter lost focus, potentially focusing too much on the offensive end. It made for some ugly film. But the tools and skill set are there for a potential turnaround.
Porter will also have to prepare for bigger and quicker matchups. Odds are, he will slide into one of the forward slots and it may cause problems. Porter is not fleet of foot and would have trouble staying in front of athletic wings. At the same time, bully ball 4s will eat his 210-pound frame up down low.
He has the tools to develop on that end. But his effort is a big question mark heading into the Draft.
Porter’s small frame is also a major question mark. Jonathan Isaac faced similar concerns last year when the Orlando Magic drafted him. Porter will not be strong enough to finish through NBA forwards in year one. Neither will he be strong enough to slow them down on defense.
Again, Porter is a pretty strong prospect, but the injury concerns will weigh heavy on NBA execs minds.
Draft Sites Say
Mike Schmitz, ESPN
"“Michael Porter Jr., who missed close to four months due to back surgery, didn’t go through medical testing at the combine. His health, along with the background intel surrounding his time at Missouri, figures to play a big role in where he’s drafted come June.”"
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer
"“Sweet shooting stroke with a high release and soft touch, both off the catch and off the dribble. Good ball handler in the open floor; can take the ball coast to coast. Effective off-ball player who moves well on cuts and knows how to get himself open for catch-and-shoot 3s. . . . Underwent back surgery for a spinal disc injury that kept him out for the majority of his freshman season. Suffers from Andrew Wiggins syndrome: He needs to prove he can be more than an inefficient scorer. His lack of advanced ball-handling moves prevents him from getting all the way to the rim or creating space against great defenders.”"
Cole Zwicker, The Stepien
"Porter Jr. is perhaps the best wing/combo-forward scoring prospect to enter the draft since Kevin Durant a decade ago. He isn’t Durant, lacking that combination of handle and generational off the dribble shooting (along with plus length), but he’s a notch above everyone else as a shooter especially. Porter Jr. might be best utilized in a Paul George type role as primarily a gravity shooter off pin-downs and screens with his size, but there might be more handling upside if he shows comfort here at Missouri. Right now Porter Jr’s is best approached with an open mind as a tight-space handler and defender. If he shows both, he looks like the favorite to challenge Doncic for #1 pick honors."
Evan Tomes, NBADraft.net
"“It’s not often that you find an elite level size/shooter/athlete package at the high school level … Extremely mature, focused and hard working individual … Smooth and athletic wing forward with high level intangibles and competitiveness. . . Better ability to attack the rim off the bounce would add to his scoring arsenal … Tends to rely on shooting over the defense in the half court … Ball handling has improved but still needs to improve his overall ball skills, especially with his left hand."
Final Word
Michael Porter Jr. is a stud. There is a reason he was touted as one of the premier high school players in America and should have been a top-three pick in this year’s Draft.
Even so, the injury concerns may cause teams like the Orlando Magic to shy away from him altogether. The Magic may be desperate for a star and fit the bill president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond are looking for, but the risk will likely be too great in their eyes.
The once surefire Lottery pick has now become the Draft’s biggest question mark. His spinal surgery last season has seen him slip from offensive superweapon to uncertainty.
The talent is there, but will his body betray him?
Porter has the ability to become an elite offensive talent. He already has the skills to put up gaudy numbers. A consistent jumper, crafty touch and even a developing post game make him the blueprint player on the wing.
If the Magic are comfortable with Porter’s health (big if), the question for the Magic will be, does Porter fit in? Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon could be the answers for Orlando no the wing, adding Porter could cause problems.
On the flip side, Porter could be the first option the team is so desperate for. He could become the player who jump-starts the offense through his limitless offensive repertoire.
If Orlando decides to have him in for a workout it could decide Porter’s fate with the Magic. A good showing could mean his name being in the conversation at six, but if he falters, it may be a long wait for Porter come Draft night.
Next: 2018 NBA Draft Preview: Who is De'Anthony Melton
Porter is the definition of risk vs. reward. He could be the franchise player Orlando is dying for or another oft-injured player who never lived up to the hype.