NBA Trade Idea: Rockets' Kevin Porter Jr. for Magic's Jonathan Isaac?

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. is a popular name in trade rumors and ideas.

Jeremy Brener | Aug 11, 2023

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Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets point guard Kevin Porter Jr. faces an uncertain future.

Porter Jr., 23, is coming off the best season of his young career, averaging 19.2 points per game. However, his status as the Rockets point guard is up in the air with the additions of Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson. Perhaps that could mean his Rockets tenure ends in a trade.

NBA Analysis Network suggests that the Orlando Magic should trade for Porter in exchange for Jonathan Isaac and a 2025 first-round pick.

Getting value for Porter now before the Rockets could cut him adrift could be a decent idea, but it doesn't seem likely with this particular trade.

Even though the Rockets get the future first-round pick, Isaac gives the team no favors with helping this potential frontcourt logjam.

Isaac, who has played just 11 games since 2020-21, would be competing for playing time alongside Jabari Smith Jr., Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore and Jae'Sean Tate. It's simply too much for a player making $17.4 million this season.

While Isaac is healthy and could be a candidate for the league's Comeback Player of the Year Award, his value to the Rockets wouldn't come close to what Porter Jr. can be as the second unit's playmaker.

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Published Aug 11, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.