Michael Porter Jr. NBA Combine 2018: Measurements, Analysis and Draft Projection
You won't see Michael Porter Jr. participating in on-court drills at the 2018 NBA draft combine, but his measurements are in.
The Missouri product came in at 6'10 ¾" in shoes with a 7'0 ¼" wingspan and 9'0 ½" standing reach. He weighed in at 211 pounds and had 6.4 percent body fat, which may be a concern for some teams. His body fat percentage is a bit on the high end among this year's prospects, and it's even higher for someone who lacks considerable bulk.
Some of Porter's relative lack of bulk and leanness is likely because he missed almost all of the entire 2017-18 basketball season due to a back injury. Porter suffered the injury in his collegiate debut and did not return until the postseason, playing two games before Missouri's season ended in disappointment.
Despite playing only 53 minutes this season, Porter is a lottery lock who could sneak into the top five if he impresses scouts. He entered Missouri as the second-ranked player in the country behind only Marvin Bagley. Had Porter been as dominant as expected in SEC play, he might have been in the conversation for the top overall pick.
Porter will not participate in any of the remaining drills at the combine, choosing instead to do individual workouts with teams. This is standard operating procedure for most lottery picks, as there's no reason for him to attempt to set himself apart against a bunch of fringe first- and second-rounders.
Porter also may not be in the peak condition he wants to be in while working out for teams. Picking and choosing his spots will potentially allow him to overcome any bad workout he might have with a given team. But had he not tested well athletically at the combine, he could have been in jeopardy of falling toward the back end of the lottery, especially if teams are still scared by his injury.
As it stands, Porter is likely to come off the board somewhere in the 5-10 range. He could work his way into the top four if a team falls in love with him, or he could fall to the Clippers at No. 12 or 13 if his medical reports raise red flags.
