In the aftermath of an alleged attack that left his girlfriend with a fractured neck vertebra and a cut above her right eye, the future of Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. is very much in question.
Porter is being charged with felony assault and strangulation in New York, where the incident allegedly took place.
Since learning of the incident on Monday, Sept. 11, both the Rockets and the NBA have said they are in the process of gathering more information, which will likely dictate the subsequent steps in terms of potential discipline and Porter’s future as a player. According to the terms of the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement, the NBA’s investigation takes precedence.
In a Tuesday television appearance, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski shared his insight. Among his comments:
The league has launched an investigation, and they will handle it in the near-term. The Houston Rockets, by the by-laws, they can’t suspend or waive him while this investigation is going on. But Adam Silver could put Porter on administrative leave.
There’s no question that Kevin Porter Jr.’s future, not just with the Rockets but in the NBA, is very much in peril. These are extremely serious allegations.
Going back a number of years to USC, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets, problems have followed him. Cleveland drafted him late in the first round and essentially gave up on him. His contract with Houston was a very team-friendly deal with non-guaranteed money after the first year.
According to ESPN colleague Bobby Marks, the NBA has the jurisdiction to potentially void Porter’s contract, entirely, under the provisions of the CBA’s current domestic violence policy.
His contract calls for Porter to be paid at least $15.9 million by the Rockets in the 2023-24 season, though there is minimal guaranteed money owed beyond that. Should the allegations be true, the optimal scenario for Houston would be for the league office to void the deal.
Over three seasons and 146 games (143 starts) with the Rockets since being acquired in January 2021, Porter has averaged 17.2 points (42.8% FG, 36.1% on 3-pointers) and 6 assists per game. He’s 23 years old and was on the verge of entering his fifth NBA season, but suddenly that appears very much in doubt.
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I would not expect any discipline against Kevin Porter Jr. until there is a full investigation by the NBA.
The Rockets can certainly tell Porter Jr. to stay away during training camp.
Porter Jr. signed a four-year $72.6M rookie extension last October.
The league has…
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) September 11, 2023