NBA Rumors: Otto Porter Jr. Not with Jazz, Could Get Contract Buyout After Trade

Utah Jazz forward Otto Porter Jr. did not rejoin the team after the All-Star break and could receive a buyout in the coming days.

Tony Jones of The Athletic reported the Jazz allowed Porter to return home and "evaluate his options" for the remainder of this season.

Porter has a $6.3 million salary for the 2023-24 season. His decision largely comes down to money versus opportunity. Any team that would sign him on the buyout market would do so on a minimum contract for the remainder of the season, so odds are Porter would have to give up six figures to find a better fit.

The veteran has appeared in just 23 games since signing a two-year, $12.3 million contract with the Toronto Raptors in July 2022. The Raptors traded Porter, Kira Lewis Jr. and a 2024 first-round pick to the Jazz at the trade deadline for Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji.

Porter has played 30 games in an NBA season just once in the last five years. He parlayed a strong showing with the Golden State Warriors in 2021--22 into a deal with Toronto but again has seen the injury bug derail his career.

It's unclear if Porter would even find much of a market if he chose to take a buyout. Porter averaged just 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 15 games played with the Raptors this season.

The Jazz are planning to play rookie Taylor Hendricks extended minutes for the remainder of this year, so Porter doesn't have much of a future in Utah, either, should he choose to stay.