EJ Stewart
Name: Michael Porter Jr.
Pick: No. 14 overall, Denver Nuggets
School: Missouri
Stats: 10.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 33.3 FG%
1. Porter slipped in the draft due to concerns over a back injury
Some draft experts projected the 6-11 swingman as the No. 1 prospect before his freshman year at Missouri. But Porter’s season was cut short after surgery to fix two herniated discs sidelined him for all but three games. When he returned for the SEC and NCAA tournament, Porter seemed to lack his usual explosiveness and quickness. He struggled in Missouri’s two postseason losses—shooting just 31 percent from the field and 30 percent from three.
Issues surrounding Porter’s health arose again when he canceled a pro day workout because of a hip strain. Porter also reportedly suffered from back spasms before the scheduled workout. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that NBA teams were scared off by a recent medical evaluation on Porter’s back.
Michael Porter’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, is delivering more detailed and recent medical info to lottery teams on Porter’s back, believes he’s given execs more reason to feel comfortable in long-term prognosis. Tecent medical report circulated among teams caused major concern.—Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
