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NBA Draft: Michael Porter Jr. limited by strained hip

By Tyler Watts

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers high fives head coach Cuonzo Martin as he comes off the court during a game against the Florida State Seminoles during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers high fives head coach Cuonzo Martin as he comes off the court during a game against the Florida State Seminoles during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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NBA Draft prospect Michael Porter Jr. is trying to move his way back into the top five, but a hip injury is limiting him as we head into the draft.

NBA Draft night is almost here.  On June 21, 60 prospects will have NBA teams to call home and the mystery and intrigue of the 2018 draft will be wrapping up.  That is a week away, so not much time for players to make their final push up draft boards.

The Sacramento Kings currently hold two selections on draft night.  They are selecting second overall and hoping to find a superstar talent to build their team around.  Then, they pick in round two at 37 overall.

Michael Porter Jr. is one prospect trying to move back up draft boards.  Back surgery limited Porter Jr. to just three games in his lone season at Missouri.  A significant part of his pre-draft process was proving to teams that he is fully healthy.  Well, another injury has cropped up for MPJ.

Strained hip

News broke on Wednesday evening that Michael Porter Jr. canceled his Friday workout.  The thought at the time was he was comfortable with his draft stock and did not need the showcase.   That was not the case, though.

Related Story: Michael Porter Jr's scouting report: Fit with Sacramento

Porter Jr. strained his hip over the last few days and is having trouble doing daily activities according to the report.

That is not great, but it sounds like an injury he should recover from before Summer Leagues begins in early July.

Long-term health

The larger questions revolve around his long-term health after that significant back surgery.  They will impact his draft stock in some way.  Porter Jr. could be picked anywhere from two to ten overall on June 21.  It will come down to a lot of factors at each choice.

Final thoughts

Michael Porter Jr. has a strained hip.  It caused him to cancel a Friday workout that the Sacramento Kings were planning on attending.  Porter Jr. should be ready to go in a few weeks, but it is another injury for a prospect with question marks in that area.  Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Next: Kings 2018 NBA Draft big board

A Royal Pain dominates the Sacramento Kings offseason from every angle.  Please check back with us frequently because our team will have all the draft content that any Kings fans could desire.  Thank you for reading.

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