A Most Improved Player candidate you didn't see coming this NBA season
WASHINGTON – New York Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek had a simple description of Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter, then and now.
"He was a guy in the past who we said, ‘We’re living with that,' " he said of Porter’s offense his first 2½ years in the NBA.
Now? "The guy's shooting the lights out,” Hornacek said. “He's shooting with so much confidence from the three-point line. So now what do you do?"
That’s a question Wizards opponents are trying to figure out as Porter’s push for this season's Most Improved Player award continues.
He is one of the breakout players in the NBA this season, and a significant reason why the Wizards have the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference since Dec. 1 and why the offense is more dynamic than it was a year ago.
Porter, who did not play AAU basketball, is having the best season of his career, averaging highs in points (14.2), rebounds (6.7), and his biggest impact has been from the three-point line. He’s shooting a career-high 45.6% on threes, which is the best in the league. He’s shooting 52.4% from the field, too.
"I've managed to get comfortable with my shot,” Porter told USA TODAY Sports. “Kudos to John (Wall) and Brad (Beal) and everyone else for finding me, believing in me, trusting me to take that shot and knock it down."
MORE NBA:
Finally off emotional roller coaster, new chapters begin for Kings, Cousins
Chris Bosh: 'My health is great. I'm feeling good'
New Cavs guard Deron Williams can be the playmaker LeBron James wanted
The Wizards have the ninth-best offense in the league, scoring 107.7 points per 100 possessions, and the Wizards score 109.8 points per 100 possessions when Porter is on the floor.
What makes Porter’s production more impressive is his low usage rate – just 15% of Washington’s plays end with a Porter shot, free throw or turnover, according to NBA.com/stats. The Wizards don't run a lot of plays for him, but he makes the most of his opportunities.
“A lot of teams usually just help off Ott's side, and now they're not helping off his side as much, but he does a great job of still cutting to the basket, getting out in transition,” Wall said. “When Markieff (Morris), Marcin (Gortat) and Jason (Smith) set good screens and the weak side has to help, you have to pick and choose what you're going to give up. He does a great job of attacking the basket off the slot when you throw it to him, and he's also still knocking down shots.”
Porter has a knack for finding an open spot on the three-point line. He is shooting 50.9% on right corner threes and 47.1% on threes from the wings and top of the arc. He also has a knack for collecting offensive rebounds and loose balls and turning them into baskets.
"Just always be ready. You never know when the ball is going to come," Porter said. "They (Wall and Beal) do such a good job of getting in the paint and that’s when everybody collapses and you never know when the ball is coming your way. I’m ready just in case the ball comes."
Porter’s breakout is surprising. As the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, he played limited minutes behind Trevor Ariza in his rookie season. In 2014-15, the Wizards had Paul Pierce, and Porter attempted just 5.3 shots per game.
But behind the scenes, the Wizards’ front office appreciated Porter’s work ethic. He didn’t complain or pout, and management began to see what Porter could do after last season’s All-Star break when he shot 44.7% on three-pointers in his final 31 games.
Porter’s improvement as a scorer and defender gives the Wizards their emerging version of a Big 3, and Porter has turned himself into one of the more intriguing potential restricted free agents this summer. If he doesn't sign Washington's qualifying offer and becomes a restricted free agent, another team can offer him a four-year max contract worth about $110 million this summer.
GALLERY: JOHN WALL THROUGH THE YEARS
Last week when the Wizards traded Andrew Nicholson and his contract to the Brooklyn Nets, they did it so they could have some financial flexibility to match an offer for Porter.
Here’s another factor to consider: Porter is represented by David Falk, who represented Michael Jordan among other stars in the 1980s and 1990s. He now has a small clientele and has a different approach to free agency.
Falk wants a player to study all options: Where does he wants to live? With which team, coach or players does he want to play? Milwaukee Bucks big man Greg Monroe took that approach. Monroe signed Detroit’s qualifying offer in 2014 so he could be an unrestricted free agent after his fifth season in 2015. It’s not always about the money first and foremost.
That’s not saying Porter will do that. It is not the norm – not many players sign a qualifying offer. But Falk believes he can recoup the money if the player is good enough.
It’s clear Porter has a good thing going with the Wizards, and the Wizards want Porter to keep that going with them.
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt