Report: Otto Porter Jr. Picks Up Player Option With Raptors

Otto Porter Jr. has picked up his player option to return to the Toronto Raptors next season

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Otto Porter Jr. is picking up his player option for next season.

It’s really not surprising news, as the Athletics’ Shams Charania first reported. The 29-year-old Toronto Raptors forward almost the entire 2022-23 season following toe surgery on his left foot. He played in just eight games before being ruled out for the year with the injury.

Porter’s contract adds another $6.3 million to Toronto’s salary cap next season. The Raptors had signed Porter to a two-year $12.3 million contract last offseason with the mid-level exception.

“That was the beginning of another unfortunate situation,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said of Porter during his season-ending media availability. “You get an experienced shooter, a big player that has great basketball IQ and could fit in with this team, but never worked out and had to have surgery. We'll see how his surgery heals, and he's in that process now. But the plan is for him to heal and be part of the roster next season.”

Porter was coming off playing in 63 games for the Golden State Warriors in 2021-22. He averaged 8.2 points per game while shooting 37% from three-point range. Toronto had hoped he’d bring shooting and defensive versatility to the team but his lengthy injury track record cost the Raptors.

Considering Porter’s relatively small contract, Toronto could move the 6-foot-8 forward in a trade this offseason.

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