Otto Porter Jr’s upcoming free agency
Otto Porter Jr. is making $28.4 million dollars this season. That’s a lot of money for any player, but when injuries and games played enter the equation, it seems Chicago could get more bang for their buck.
By no means is that assessment a knock on Porter; the coaching staff has been very vocal in their support of how he’s handled his rehab process. However, the fact is he carries a heavy salary cap hit and Chicago is still looking to improve as a team. Porter is playing in the last year of a contract extension he signed while still a member of the Washington Wizards. If the Bulls allow him to finish the season with the team, they risk losing his services for nothing. A sign-and-trade scenario this upcoming off-season is not guaranteed. If the team wants to capitalize on Porter’s market value, they owe it to themselves to move him before the March 25th trade deadline.
Poet Geoffrey Chaucer once famously wrote, “All good things must come to an end.” Otto Porter’s acquisition looked promising from the start, but injuries derailed what could have been. Bulls fans are grateful to Porter for the time he served with the team; the occasional 30 point outings will be fondly remembered. However, now is the time for the team to move in a different direction. The necessity to make important moves can arrive suddenly in the NBA. For the Chicago Bulls, the time to trade Porter is now.