Houston Rockets goalkeeper Kevin Porter Jr.. His agent Sam Bermot of Roc Nation Sports has agreed to a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension.
The extension has a unique structure that allows for a significant improvement in Porter utilization and missile protection. The sources said that the first season of the deal is guaranteed, and the future seasons have several mechanisms to fully guarantee it.
Porter, 26, got the extension before the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Monday for players outside the 2019 NBA Draft class.
Houston GM Raphael Stone and coach Stephen Silas have invested significant time and energy in Porter on and off the field, and his growth has given them reason to continue to develop it as one of the cornerstones of the franchise.
While there have been unquestioned challenges in Porter’s development — including the Cleveland Cavaliers who traded him for the Rockets in 2021 for a late second-round pick unlikely to ever move him — his extension provides an opportunity to make money if he continues to grow. into a player you can totally rely on.
The one thing that was not in question with Porter was his talent. He finished the 2021-2022 season strong for Houston, averaging 28.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists in his last seven games, according to ESPN Statistics and Information Research. In this period, he played 35-point winning streak, and was the youngest player in the history of the Rockets to do so.
Porter showed a huge improvement in his 3-point shot last season, improving 6.5% to 37.5% — the fifth largest increase among 163 players for attempting 150 3s in each of the last two seasons, according to ESPN stats and information. His 48% rated his 3-catch-and-shoot in the top five among players who made at least 100 attempts, in his second spectrum tracking.