Is Porter Jr. playing himself off the team?
MEMPHIS — The Golden State Warriors' most consistent player this postseason might be a 28-year-old role player on a veteran-minimum contract.
Forward Otto Porter Jr.'s versatile defense, timely shotmaking and rebounding have made him especially valuable — the type of rotation player who typically helps the team win. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but Porter's solid play might hurt the Warriors' chances of re-signing him this summer.
Ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday at FedEx Forum, I looked at Porter's future and much, much more. Here is our latest Warriors mailbag:
@gobearzgo: What kind of contract do you think Otto Porter Jr. will earn in the offseason with his recent improved play?
I recently asked Keith Smith, a salary-cap expert for Spotrac, that same question. He said he expects someone to offer Porter a significant chunk of the taxpayer midlevel exception, likely between $5 million and $7 million.
If that happens, the Warriors probably won't be able to match. They would love to bring back Porter on another minimum deal around $2.4 million, but they might have a tough time giving him most of the $10.3 million mid-level exception, in part because they need that to re-sign Gary Payton II.
Porter has been a great fit with the Warriors as a doeverything role player. But given the team's salary-cap constraints, it probably needs to try to replace him with another player whose abilities outpace his market value.
@WilliamBabbel: Any chance Iggy plays? I’d love to see him celebrate on their floor.
There's a chance Andre Iguodala returns at some point this postseason, but I wouldn't bank on it. Draymond Green intimated recently that the team isn't necessarily expecting to have Iguodala back.
It's disappointing for the Warriors, given that they signed Iguodala largely for what he could bring in the playoffs. If he doesn't return, he will have logged just 42 minutes this postseason and scored four points.
However, Mike Brown did go out of his way Monday to rave about how much Iguodala has helped from the sideline. He's basically another assistant coach.
@alexsensei: What does Kuminga need to improve on to get more minutes?
Jonathan Kuminga has been as good during limited playing time this postseason as can be expected. But he is still a 19year-old rookie who makes costly mistakes, which is why Brown played Kuminga for only five minutes in Game 4.
The Warriors are outscoring opponents by 24.8 more points this postseason per 100 possessions when Kuminga is on the bench than when he is on the floor, the worst difference of any Golden State player who has earned a meaningful amount of playing time. Far too often, he is out of position defensively or making the wrong offensive read.
This is nothing too concerning. The Warriors' decisionmakers still view Kuminga as a franchise building block with perennial-All-Star potential, but he just isn't quite ready for a big role on the playoff stage. That's why you see someone like Damion Lee getting more minutes than Kuminga.
Though not as flashy as Kuminga, Lee makes fewer mistakes.
@Yay_Arreeeaaaaa: If the WCF starts on Monday, will Kerr be out of COVID protocols?
In December, the NBA shortened its required isolation period for vaccinated players and staff from 10 days to six. Given that Kerr began self-isolating Monday, he could be cleared from health and safety protocols as soon as Sunday. It's very possible Kerr would be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals if that's on Monday.
@Bud71398246: Do you notice anything that Mike Brown does differently from Kerr as head coach?
Brown is more detail-oriented than Kerr. Brown is much more focused on rotational nuances and things of that nature.
Also, Brown is a defensiveoriented coach and Kerr is more of an offensive mind. But even though they're very different temperamentally and tactically, I know Brown has learned a lot from Kerr the past six years. Expect him to lean heavily on Kerr's advice while Kerr is in health and safety protocols. As acting head coach, Brown sees it as his duty to carry out what Kerr wants.
@FWI_Warrior: Do you think bad starts will be addressed and corrected for the remaining games?
I'd be surprised if Kuminga started his third straight game Wednesday. Given how reliable Porter has been on both sides of the court, I'd expect him to replace Kuminga in the first unit.
Regardless, Brown needs to do something. If the Warriors keep starting slow, they could struggle mightily in the Western Conference finals. Both the Suns and Mavericks are more formidable than a Ja Morantless Memphis team.
@ll0ydd0bler: Any frontoffice plans for Brown’s replacement? Frank Vogel seems like a perfect candidate as a defensive-minded coach. Or, would they just promote from within?
It's still a bit early. There has been a lot of speculation that Kerr will bring back Luke Walton, but I'm not convinced. The Warriors need someone who can oversee the defense and the substitution pattern, two vital roles Brown occupied.
Vogel could make some sense. But I expect the Warriors to promote Kenny Atkinson to lead assistant, and I'm not sure Vogel would want to come to be a No. 2 assistant. Don't be surprised if Kerr asks someone like Chris DeMarco or Jama Mahlalela to take over some of Brown's old duties.
I know Kerr thinks highly of those two, and he would relish the chance to elevate them. Of course, some of this depends on whom Brown brings with him to Sacramento.
@timland33: In the same vein that the Grizzlies were “privately” seething about Kerr’s broke-the-code statement, are the Warriors privately ticked off at Morant and Jenkins trying to claim Poole injured Morant?
I think it upset Warriors players in the moment. Asked after Game 3 about Morant's “broke the code” tweet and Jenkins' comments, Curry said, “It's not a joking matter that Ja is hurt, but all the rest it is total B.S. in terms of the conversation right now.”
But at this point, I think the Warriors have calmed down a bit. Asked Wednesday about Jenkins' insinuation that Poole hurt Morant (a claim later put in doubt when Morant's diagnosis of a bone bruise was revealed), Brown said he respects Jenkins and that Jenkins was just trying to stand up for his team.