Rockets exercise 2022-23 contract option on Kevin Porter Jr.

As expected, Houston will keep Kevin Porter Jr. around for the 2022-23 NBA season by picking up his player option (worth $3.2 million).

As expected, the Rockets have picked up the fourth-year player option on the contract of 21-year-old guard Kevin Porter Jr. for the 2022-23 NBA season, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

Porter was a first-round pick from the 2019 NBA draft. Teams have options on first-round player contracts for their third and fourth seasons that need to be exercised, and Monday was the deadline for doing so.

Porter will make $3.2 million in the 2022-23 season under the terms of the option year. As for what happens after that, the 6-foot-4 guard is now eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension with Houston during the 2022 offseason. If Porter and the Rockets are unable to work out a new deal at that time, the next step would be restricted free agency in 2023.

In six games this season, Porter is averaging 12.5 points (36.1% on 3-pointers), 5.0 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in 29.7 minutes. He remains the team’s starting point guard and is a clear focal point of Houston’s rebuilding plan and its goal to give more minutes to younger players.

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