NBA Notes: Nets, Michael Porter Jr, Suns, Oso Ighodaro, Warriors

Nets

Nets coach Jordi Fernández isn’t merely hoping Michael Porter Jr. becomes an All-Star. He sounds like he’s expecting it.

“I believe that this year he’s going to come in with the purpose of the team being way more competitive, winning many, many games,” Fernández said, via Sameer Kumar of NBA on SI.

“In my mind, he should have been an All-Star. He will be an All-Star.”

Porter certainly made a case last season, averaging 25.6 points on 48.2 percent shooting over his first 38 games with Brooklyn. He didn’t make the All-Star team, but merely getting into that conversation represented another step for a player who spent most of his career in Denver as a complementary scorer.

The bigger question may be whether the Nets can win enough for Porter to get there. All-Star selections from teams near the bottom of the standings aren’t exactly easy to come by.

Fernández, clearly, intends for that not to be an issue.

Suns

The Suns aren’t particularly interested in everybody else’s expectations. At least Oso Ighodaro isn’t.

“From the outside, I would assume probably not much,” Ighodaro told Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic when asked what people expect from Phoenix. “It wasn’t a surprise to us what we did.”

Ighodaro added that the Suns’ goal remains to “compete for a championship.”

He appeared in all 82 games last season, averaging 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and now enters Year 3 in a crowded center rotation that also includes Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach.

Ighodaro described himself as a potential “connector” on both ends and said he’s been working extensively on his free throws and 3-point shot, Brendan Mau of NBA on SI relayed.

That latter part would certainly help. He shot just 45.3 percent from the line last season and has yet to develop into a 3-point threat.

Warriors

The Warriors filled their final two standard roster openings Tuesday with Brandon Williams and Georges Niang.

That could mean considerably more G League time for LJ Cryer.

As Joey Akeley of NBA on SI noted, Cryer’s two-way contract isn’t affected by Williams’ arrival. His pathway to NBA minutes probably is.

Golden State already has Stephen Curry, De’Anthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski atop the guard rotation, with Williams, Will Richard and Gary Payton II also available. That’s a lot of bodies standing between Cryer and regular playing time.

Cryer showed something when given opportunities last season, averaging 8.2 points in 18 appearances and shooting 39.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Williams brings something different, particularly his ability to get downhill and create with the ball.

So Cryer isn’t going anywhere. He just may be spending considerably more time in Santa Cruz than San Francisco.