[Saba Sports News] The Houston Rockets appear poised to sever all connections with Kevin Porter Jr. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Rockets are actively seeking to trade the 23-year-old guard and are willing to include draft-pick compensation in the deal.
This decision follows Porter’s recent arrest on felony charges related to an alleged assault on his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick, which resulted in a fractured neck vertebra.
Porter’s arrest occurred in New York City, and the reported details of the incident were deeply concerning, leading to his charges of felony assault and strangulation. The NBA has initiated an investigation, with Commissioner Adam Silver publicly denouncing the allegations against Porter as “horrific” during a press conference.
On the basketball court last season, Porter averaged 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, albeit playing for a struggling Rockets team. He is currently under contract for $15.9 million each season for the next three years, with full guarantees in 2023-24, a partial guarantee in 2024-25, and a non-guaranteed deal in 2025-26. If the Rockets were to release Porter outright, they would still be responsible for all his guaranteed money.
Given Porter’s recent troubles and past behavioral and legal issues, it’s unlikely that any team is eager to acquire him at this time. This is why the Rockets might be considering adding draft assets to sweeten the deal, making it more enticing for another team to absorb Porter’s contract while potentially parting ways with him. Porter’s NBA career is now hanging in the balance, regardless of how the Rockets handle his contract.