Michael Porter Jr. Scouting Report

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Michael Porter Jr. (Wing/forward, 19, 6'10", 215 lbs)

Statistical Profile

Strengths

Porter was hurt the majority of the season and was frankly quite bad in the 53 minutes he played over three games with Missouri. Analyzing his potential as a prospect is primarily an effort based on his work in high school where he was one of the most intriguing players in the country and generally dominated against top competition.

Standing at least 6'10", Porter plays like a guard and is a fluid and agile athlete. He has elite size as a combo three/four forward. Primary scorers on the wing at his size with his skill do not come around often. He has long strides, is very coordinated and is a very good transition player, handling the ball well in the open floor and gliding to the rim where he draws fouls and is pretty explosive as a leaper.

As a shooter, he has excellent and repeatable mechanics, boasting a high release point and above average touch and arc. He is a great pull up shooter with deep range, elevating over the top of defenders. He creates a ton of space with his step-back jumper, and the fluidity of his motion off the dribble is extremely rare for a player his size.

Defensively, he is light on his feet and has flashed the ability to switch onto quicker players and hard hedge in ball screens. He has good timing and is generally a very good athlete. He is a solid rebounder but relies primarily on his explosiveness and leaping ability as opposed to boxing out opponents.

Weaknesses

Porter is a very incomplete player. He spent the year recovering from a back injury, and when he returned, he was rusty and failed to exemplify most of what made him such an intriguing prospect. Off the court, two of the most primary concerns are his injury risk and questions about his intangibles on the court. For example, when we scouted Porter at Wagner for our second game of the season, there was still a possibility he was going to play in that game. Based off the limited tape we had available, it was clear that he lacked physicality and avoided contact on the glass and driving to the rim. Compound that with his back injury and one sees significant downside risk taking Porter in the top half of the lottery.

Porter has a weak lower body and will struggle to hold up in the post against NBA size and athleticism. Offensively, his floor game is a major question mark. He is currently restricted to being a straight line driver and there are concerns about his ability to handle in tight spaces. He has no left hand on the move and relies heavily on driving to his right. There is no evidence he can handle the ball in ball screen situations, pass on the move, or operate as a primary scorer with advanced feel for the game. He had three assists in 53 minutes with Missouri and didn’t display an instinctual feel for the game.

Defensively, Porter fails to get into a stance and plays upright, which is an issue considering his poor lateral agility. He has a 7' wingspan, below average for his height, and lacks the instincts to make up for the physical weakness in his legs. His knee-bend and lack of trust in his lower body strength is a major concern, and does not portend well for him as a quality defender in the NBA.

Summary

Porter’s combination of skill, size and athleticism makes him one of the most interesting combo forward scorers to enter the NBA in years. As a transition threat and pull up shooter, he is extremely valuable and should have positional versatility due to his agility and quickness at 6'10". However, his current game is limited by his inability to dribble left, his lack of general ball-handling prowess, an apparent disinterest as a passer, and extremely weak lower body that restricts his effectiveness defensively. He will be a great shooter off pin downs and screens due to his elevation, release point and mechanics, but he is an incomplete player with more holes in his game than other lottery prospects. Compound these issues with his lack of physicality and legitimate injury concerns, and Porter presents himself as a risk-laden selection with an admittedly high ceiling. He is far more likely to top out as Rudy Gay than Kevin Durant, and has a lot of room to grow to reach his potential.