The Sacramento Kings Need Otto Porter Jr.
Photo Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Otto Porter Jr. needs to be moved off the Washington Wizards. The team is in freefall mode and won’t be making the playoffs. The Sacramento Kings could benefit from having a player of his magnitude come into the lineup.
Many teams covet Porter. The 25-year-old might be the most sought-after trade candidate this season. If you’re Vlade Divac, this move is what’s necessary to compete for a playoff spot, especially given the competition in the West.
Sacramento isn’t near the top of the Western Conference standings. Getting a talent like Porter might propel them to a much higher seed. The Kings are hovering around them. 500 mark and could drop out of the playoff race at any point. The West is cluttered from the 3rd to 10th seed.
Sacramento has the talent to be a top contender. Some will argue there’s not enough ball to go around for Porter. Current starting small forward, Iman Shumpert, gets off 7.9 shots per game on average. Porter, a much more gifted scorer, could easily put up 11-12 a contest, despite Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic needing their shots. The Kings play at such a fast pace.
Only averaging 11.7 points, Porter puts up 9.5 shots per game with Washington. Porter is shooting a respectable .487 from the field. The previous two seasons, he shot at an astounding. 516 and .503. It’s all about efficiency for Otto Porter.
There have been worries about the health of Porter. Currently, he’s dealing with a minor bone bruise. Sacramento can’t let that get in the way of signing him. He’s still got two years (not including this current season) left on his contract. ( That’s assuming he chooses to not opt out before the 2020-21 season with his player option.) Point is, this isn’t just a move for this year, but next year and potentially the year after.
The Kings currently rank 5th with 115.3 points per game. Nobody would’ve guessed they’d be there at the beginning of the season. Assuming the Kings get Porter, you’d assume anywhere from 2-5 points added on that total. That would put them at the top of the NBA. Despite the surprising stats, the Kings are a good scoring team.
As for defense, Sacramento ranks 14th. Porter Jr. is a solid enough defender that he won’t be a hindrance to the team. Iman Shumpert would come off the bench and provide the defense if needed. Although, Porter can more than hold his own.
Does it make sense for the Sacramento Kings to add Otto Porter Jr.? Considering his low amount of shot attempts and high field goal percentage, he’d be able to fit in with the Kings high powered offense. Hield and Bogdanovic can still get their shots off without Porter taking away too much of their shine.
The reason you’d have Porter is for an extra scoring option. He can contribute and take over a game if need be. It’s a lock that he averages more than his current 11 points per game. Sacramneto pushes the pace on offense, unlike the Wizards. Expect Porter’s usage to go down a bit, but his effectiveness to increase.
There should be no time wasted in acquiring Otto Porter Jr. if you’re the Sacramento Kings. Go out and get him, and make the damn playoffs.
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
