NBA Draft 2018: 5 best fits for Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. is one of the biggest mysteries in the NBA Draft. Here are five teams that could really benefit from adding the sweet shooting forward.

After a back injury cost Porter Jr. all but 53 minutes of his collegiate season it’s safe to say he’s one of the most mysterious players in the draft. There just isn’t a lot of college tape for scouts to use. Instead, they’ll be forced to rely on high school tape and workouts to determine just how high the former Missouri Tiger should go in the draft

He entered the season as a lot of people’s No. 1 prospect but his stock has slipped due to his back injury. That hasn’t done anything to diminish Porter Jr’s self-confidence. He told everyone that would listen at the NBA Draft Combine that he is the “best player in this draft.”

Some scouts appreciate that sort of alpha dog mentality while others remain skeptical about Porter Jr.’s health and his game. Medicals will certainly be a big part of his pre-draft process. If his back checks out for teams he should be a lock for the top five. If more issues with his back arise, he could be set for a free fall on draft night.

His private workouts with teams will also heavily influence his draft position. Porter Jr’s representatives will be very conservative with his schedule. Don’t expect to see him work out against many other live players. Porter Jr. will largely go up against chairs and other inanimate objects in the lead up to the draft.

Even so, the NBA’s current emphasis on bigs that can stretch the floor will definitely work in his favor. There are questions about how well he can defend and make plays for others, but there aren’t any questions about his ability to shoot the basketball. That skill alone will make him interesting to a number of teams. These five, in particular, would be a great landing spot for Porter Jr. at the next level.