Houston Rockets look to trade Kevin Porter Jr. following arrest for assault. What do we know?
As the NBA and its fans witness the developing situation surrounding the Rockets’ guard, the team itself is trying to trade him in the wake of controversy.
Clearly talented but blatantly struggling with anger management, the 23-year-old rising star faces an uncertain future after being arrested for what appears to be a very serious offense with far-reaching consequences.
Rockets set on trading Kevin Porter Jr.
Just days ago, the Houston Rockets’ Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, WNBA free agent Kysre Gondrezick. Reports indicated that Gondrezick had at least one broken bone and bruising about her body. Understandably, the Rockets are now reportedly in the process of trying to trade Porter along with draft compensation. The sad irony in all of this is that the former USC product is coming off of what was his best season in the league so far since being drafted as the No. 30 overall pick in 2019. Porter averaged a career-high 19.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a starter for the Rockets last season.
Kevin Porter has a problematic history in the NBA
If the allegations against him weren’t already sinister enough, then it’s worth noting that Porter has actually been here before and more than once. In August 2020, Porter was accused of punching a woman and pulling her hair while in downtown Cleveland. The woman involved in the alleged altercation claimed that Porter ripped out her weave while she was in an argument with Porter’s sister and that he also punched her in the face. Porter was never charged for his alleged involvement. There was also an incident in November of that same year when he was arrested for possession of a loaded gun after being involved in a single-car accident. A player for the Cleveland Cavaliers at the time, Porter was released after posting a $4,000 bond.
Indeed, it was those same Cavs from which Porter was traded to the Rockets in 2021, following what was reportedly an angry outburst in the team’s locker room after learning that his locker had been issued to a teammate. From yelling to eventually throwing food, the situation escalated to the point that Cavs GM, Koby Altman was forced to intervene, reportedly stating at the time that Porter remained “combative.” Porter was told shortly after the incident to collect his things and leave, while his teammates were advised that he would no longer be a member of the roster. Just four days later, Porter was offloaded to the Rockets. That’s not to say there was a lull in his aggressive behavior. No. In Houston, he was suspended once for leaving the arena during a game following an argument with his teammate, Christian Wood, and now we have this latest entry - the worst - in his list of transgressions.
The problem with Kevin Porter Jr.
Ultimately, the Rockets are justified in wanting to move on from Porter, both on the grounds of a moral code of conduct and of course, the backlash that would be involved in maintaining ties with someone who broke it. The problem is that any team that moves to acquire him will be faced with the same conundrum. Then, there’s also the fact that he signed a $82 million extension with the Rockets last October. That’s to say that what happens to Porter from here is anybody’s guess. Will he be convicted? Will he play again in the NBA? Who knows, but as we take stock of the hurt he has caused, we can still acknowledge that it’s a sad turn in the career of a promising player who appears to need help not just punishment.