Otto Porter Jr.
Bradley Beal no longer on the block, Otto Porter Jr. to the Jazz? Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after hitting a three pointer against the Detroit Pistons in the first half at Capital One Arena on January 21, 2019 in Washington, DC. Getty Images/Rob Carr

The Washington Wizards have had a change of heart, stating that they are no longer interested in dealing off Bradley Beal. However, that does not mean that they are keeping most of their players. From Beal, it seems that the attention has now shifted to Otto Porter Jr.

The sudden u-turn on Beal is staggering, but his performance may be one of the reasons. With John Wall out due to an injury, the 25-year-old guard has stepped up to lead the Wizards to seven wins of their last 10 games, CBS Sports reported.

With Wall falling to a season-ending heel surgery, there is no telling what kind of condition he will be in when he is ready to return. In any case, Beal could end up being the new star guard for Washington and such is the reason why he has been taken off the table. This remains to be seen.

With Beal no longer on the trading block, several NBA teams have reportedly inquired about Porter. One identified team is the Utah Jazz, a team where the 25-year-old forward could perfectly fit in, The Athletic reported.

However, getting Porter will come at a price. According to Spotrac.com, he signed a four-year deal during the 2017-18 NBA season worth $106 million. He is due to make $26 million of that this season and $27 million next season. If the Jazz is to get him, they would need to find someone with about the same salary or waive some players. Adding a third team to the mix is also an option.

The hefty investment is, however, believed to be worth it. Porter is a flexible player and someone who can also toughen up the defensive end of the Jazz. He can also deliver on the offensive end, owning an impressive 40-percent shooting clip from three-point territory. The Jazz is 24th in the league, making just 34.3 percent of their 3-point attempts.

The February trade deadline is still weeks away, meaning the Wizards and the Jazz could still work something out. If not Utah, several other teams are likely to enter the fray to try and pluck the former Georgetown Hoya from Washington.

Then again, if the asking price is too stiff, he could remain a Wizard for now. If the February trade deadline lapses, there is always the summer to look forward to.

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