The Houston Rockets are looking to move on from point guard Kevin Porter Jr. following assault allegations which led to Porter being arrested in New York City after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Rockets are exploring trade scenarios centered on Porter in an attempt to replace him with a player that can contribute during the upcoming 2023-2024 NBA season, adding that Houston is now “actively engaged with multiple teams” on a potential trade.
Porter’s situation has been a hot topic on sports social media especially as details continue to surface regarding the incident.
Porter, 23, signed a our-year, $72.6 million contract in 2022 and is due to make $15.86 million during the 2023-24 season before his contract becomes partially-guaranteed during the 2024-25 season, followed by being non guaranteed during the 2025-26 season.
While NBA journalists have pointed out that the league can void this contract under the provisions of the Domestic Violence Policy in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, it is unclear what path the NBA will take.
“The allegations here are horrific. There are no questions about that,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated during the league’s Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday (h/t RocketsWire). “But I don’t know anything more about the actual facts other than reading those allegations. We have a domestic violence policy that was collectively bargained with the player’s association… I think here, when we’re not in season, there is a little bit more of an opportunity to absorb more of what’s happening before we act. I think if it were a case when we were in the middle of the season, we would be compelled to do something faster.
“And so, while ultimately we’re required to be differential to law enforcement when there’s an investigation, I think this has given us the opportunity, because we are not in season, to take a little bit of time to understand the situation.”
Porter has averaged 17.2 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game during his run with the Rockets thus far.
