Porter Jr.'s career at stake? Experts suggest that the rocket be cut immediately and there will only be 1 million guarantees in the next three years
On September 14, Beijing time, the NBA entered the offseason. According to previous reports, Rockets player Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested on suspicion of beating his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick, and he subsequently pleaded not guilty to the charge of assaulting his girlfriend and was released on $75,000 cash bail, which will continue on October 16.
Earlier today, Sam Vecenie, a well-known writer and NBA expert from TA, tweeted that the Rockets cut Porter Jr. immediately so they could reduce their losses. Sam Vecenie wrote: "The Rockets should cut Kevin Porter Jr. as soon as possible, and I know this requires permission from the league, so the Rockets may not be able to do that at this time. But as soon as the league allows him, the Rockets should immediately cut him, and not let his contract get a penny more secure. ”
Under the terms of the NBA's domestic violence policy, the league can impose fines, suspensions, dismissals, and even cancel any further ties to the league and its teams on players who violate the domestic violence policy.
Porter Jr., 23, signed a four-year, $63 million contract with the Rockets last season, and his contract for 2023-24 was fully guaranteed, but only $1 million for the next three years. According to the rules, if he is not cut on the 2023-24 season opener day, his contract guarantee for the 2024-25 season will rise to $3 million. After the 2023-24 trade deadline, his guaranteed contract for the 2024-25 season will rise to $6 million. If Porter Jr. remains with the team after June 30, 2024, his contract for the 2024-25 season will be fully guaranteed, and the contract guarantee for the next two years will be divided into three stages as described above.
As a result, as Sam Vecenie analyzes, the sooner the Rockets cut Porter Jr., the more they can reduce their financial losses. It is worth mentioning that the famous journalist Woj said about Porter Jr.'s situation: "Porter Jr.'s future in the Rockets and the NBA is at stake. It can be seen that it may be difficult for Porter Jr. to be spared this time.