Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone quieted rumors that Michael Porter Jr. could be dealt this week, saying after his team's 125-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans that "we're not trading Michael Porter."
Porter had a season-high 36 points in Monday's win on 12-of-22 shooting, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range. After the game, Malone was asked if he has had conversations with Porter about the trade rumors.
"No because we're not trading Michael Porter," Malone said. "So I'm not touching base with anybody on that. ... And if there's something coming, obviously [Nuggets GM Calvin Booth] will talk with me and I'm sure we'll communicate with whatever players. But Michael is a really important piece, he helped us win a championship."
Porter is enjoying his best season since a back injury kept him out for most of the 2021-22 season, but the Nuggets as a team have been inconsistent. He's the only player on Denver's roster eligible to be traded before the Feb. 6 deadline who makes more than $9 million this season, making him a prime candidate to be dealt should the Nuggets make a significant move.
A 6-foot-10 wing with a sweet shooting stroke, Porter has been an iron man for Denver after an injury-plagued start to his career, playing in 81 games last season and every game thus far this year.
"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 after Monday's game. "And then 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."
He's in the third year of a five-year, maximum rookie contract extension he signed in 2022. He has two years and nearly $80 million left on the deal.
