Talk with Kerr helped convince Porter Jr. to join Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Otto Porter Jr. has the potential to be the steal of the offseason.
The former No. 3 overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft has both the physical qualities and track record of statistics that suggest he could have agreed to a more lucrative contract in free agency than what he did. 6-foot-8 wings who are career 40.2 percent shooters from 3-point range typically are in high demand on the open market, and he reportedly did receive better offers. And yet, he reached an agreement with the Warriors for the veteran’s minimum.
Why? Surely the opportunity to play alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompon and Draymond Green had plenty to do with it. But coach Steve Kerr played a role as well, all the way from the Tokyo Olympics.
“Yes, I definitely talked to them,” Porter Jr. told KRON4’s Jason Dumas on Tuesday. “The GM, Steve Kerr … he’s all the way in Tokyo, so just to have him call me and say that definitely they’re looking for me to be a big part of what they’re trying to do this year — be a part of the team, bring some veteran leadership, size, and just overall a player that is trying to get back in the groove and get back to playing like himself — we both figured that this would be a great opportunity to bring that to the table here.”
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Kerr currently is serving as an assistant coach for Team USA, but clearly, he has been multitasking while trying to beef Golden State’s roster. Porter Jr. doesn’t come without risks, as he has been hampered by injuries throughout his career, but he’s definitely worth betting on, particularly at a veteran’s minimum price.