Michael Porter Jr Out For 'Foreseeable Future'

[RealGM Wiretap]

Denver Nuggets head coach said the team has no real update on Michael Porter Jr.'s injured back, but that the forward is expected to about for the "foreseeable future". Porter was injured in a game against the Houston Rockets over the weekend. He underwent testing on Monday and will continue to have more testing done in coming days.

When asked for clarification on a timeline, Malone said “Michael could be back in a week. It could be longer than that. When I say foreseeable future, I’m not really sure what that means.”

Porter slipped in the 2018 NBA Draft due to concerns about a back injury suffered while at Missouri. Porter has already had two back surgeries. However, he had a breakout season in 2020-21. Porter averaged 19.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, while playing in 61 games.

That strong season led to the Nuggets and Porter agreeing to a five-year, $172.5 million max contract extension. Denver did protect themselves some, as the final season is partially guaranteed with triggers related to games played and performance in the prior seasons.

Via Ryan Blackburn/Denver Stiffs

[imDatknicksTape]

dude averaged damn near 20 pts, denver had to take the gamble wit that contract. hopefully he can comeback stronger.

[shakes0]

Been telling you guys since day 1 that his back is a ticking time bomb where the question is when not if. No one in the world is having 2 back surgeries before they are 20 and then going on to play the absolute worst sport you can play for your back and not having future problems.

I had my first back surgery from basketball at 26 and continued playing every day. By the time I was 30 I had 3 back surgeries and was told I could never run or jump ever again. Yea, he's screwed.

[GameChannel]

dude averaged damn near 20 pts, denver had to take the gamble wit that contract. hopefully he can comeback stronger.

They didn't have to gamble. He would have been a restricted free agent. Denver could match. So they basically bid against themselves for a player with known injury history and one good season behind him

[WuriderX]

stupid decision to not let him hit the market. Honestly do backs ever get better? A young guy with back problems becomes an old guy with back problems.

[Bk68]

So......... That contracts signed and guaranteed?

[chilluminati]

So......... That contracts signed and guaranteed?

Not completely guaranteed. The deal is guaranteed for $145.3 million and worth up to $172 million. It is also guaranteed for $12 million out of $39.3 million in the fifth year of the contract — with a full guarantee based on All-Stars, MVPs, DPOYs, All-NBA and All-Defensive honors.

[njknicks]

dude averaged damn near 20 pts, denver had to take the gamble wit that contract. hopefully he can comeback stronger.

They didn't have to gamble. He would have been a restricted free agent. Denver could match. So they basically bid against themselves for a player with known injury history and one good season behind him

Completely 100% agree -- prior to Aaron Gordon joining, MPJ was the 3rd scoring option on the team. How do you offer a MAX contract to the 3rd option ( unproven / young talent with injury history )? Nuggets bid against themselves : very foolish given they could have matched any offer this off-season - with Jamal Murray out for extending time, this would have been the season to validate MPJ's talent level as a potential 2nd scoring option.

As for those claiming he is young and can recover - back injuries do not go away ( especially back injuries that have had surgeries ). Every facet of his game is effected by the range of motion on his back.

Ultimately, Jokic will have to carry the franchise this season ( again ).

[dougthonus]

dude averaged damn near 20 pts, denver had to take the gamble wit that contract. hopefully he can comeback stronger.

They actually did not need to take a gamble. They could have simply wait until he was a RFA and then made a max deal or matched a max deal from another team. For someone with Porter's history, this would be by far the most prudent thing to do. If he was going to give them a discount for early security that would be different, then they were gambling an additional year to wait and see vs cost savings long term.

However, to go early on a deal that he still needed to improve to validate given his history was pretty stupid IMO.

[moocow007]

So......... That contracts signed and guaranteed?

Yes unless he hurt his back doing a nosedive out a hotel window after binging on tequilas and consorting with women of ill repute on a game night.