Otto Porter Jr. Not With Jazz, Could Get Contract Buyout

According to NBA insider Tony Jones of The Athletic, Otto Porter Jr. is not with the Utah Jazz and the forward could get a contract buyout.

The Jazz acquired Porter Jr. from the Toronto Raptors in the Kelly Olynyk trade. 

“Utah Jazz forward Otto Porter Jr. has returned home to evaluate his options for the remainder of the season and will not be with the team Thursday night when the Jazz open the second half of their schedule against the Charlotte Hornets, league sources tell The Athletic,” Jones wrote. “The 30-year-old Porter, whom the Jazz acquired two weeks ago when they traded Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji to the Toronto Raptors, is fully healthy and ready to play, according to league sources. His options include accepting a contract buyout from the Jazz, which would allow him to sign with another team. Porter would have to sign with another team by March 1 to be eligible to play in the postseason.”

Porter Jr. has appeared in 15 games this season. He’s averaging just 2.6 points while shooting 42.4% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. 

A Georgetown product, Porter Jr. has played for the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors and Raptors. He has career averages of 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists. 

Porter Jr. helped the Warriors win the 2022 championship over the Boston Celtics in six games. The swingman was the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Wizards. 

The Jazz are 26-30 on the season. They are in 11th place in the Western Conference standings. 

If the season ended today, the Jazz would not be in the play-in tournament.