The Denver Nuggets knew what they were getting into when they selected Michael Porter Jr. with the 14th overall pick in last year's draft. He missed this season entirely after undergoing back surgery in July, but it sounds like he's nearing a return.
According to a report from T.J. McBride of MileHighSports, Porter Jr. is feeling healthy, and he plans to participate in this season's Summer League tournament:
Michael Porter Jr. said he plans to play in summer league and is ready to go physically.
— T.J. McBride (@TJMcBrideNBA) May 13, 2019
Porter Jr. suffered his back injury in the opening two minutes of his freshman season at Missouri, forcing him to miss all but two games of that campaign. Some experts thought he would be taken higher in the NBA Draft, but a lot of teams were leery of his status, as it was clear that he needed surgery.
The fact that Porter Jr. is feeling well enough to play again is a great sign for the Nuggets, who were recently ousted from the Western Conference Semifinals by the Portland Trail Blazers (4-3). He's been taking part in some light 3-on-3 work in recent weeks, and his teammates have been impressed.
“I challenge him all the time,” Torrey Craig told The Athletic in March, referring to Porter. “Me and him go at it all the time because I like to talk trash to him. I like to keep him humble, but he’s going to be a great player.”
Hopefully, Porter will be able to make a statement in the Summer League. If he's well enough to start the 2019-20 season, the Nuggets will likely look to utilize his services right away, though his minutes could be limited until it's clear that he has recovered in full.
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