3 players Cavs could target in 2019 NBA Draft with their Rockets’ pick
By Corey Casey
Jontay Porter, Center-Missouri
Jontay Porter could’ve been a first-round pick if he declared with his older brother Michael Porter Jr. (now of the Denver Nuggets) for the 2018 NBA Draft, but he decided to go back to Missouri for one more year and have another strong season. Those plans took a different course when he reportedly tore his ACL and MCL before the college season started.
Jontay Porter has good size for a center, standing at 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds. He probably would’ve been a lottery pick if not for the injury before the season, but he could be available by the time the Cleveland Cavaliers pick with the Rockets’ first-rounder. Porter’s game is more predicated on skill then pure athleticism, so I think he should be able to bounce back from this injury.
During the 2017-2018 season at Mizzou, Porter averaged 9.9 points on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and 6.8 rebounds per game, per Sports Reference. He has a nice offensive scoring skill set, is a good passer for a big man (as he had 3.7 assists per 40 minutes), and handles the ball very well for a big.
In addition, Porter can stretch the defense with his shooting as he shot 36.4 percent from three during his one season at Missouri. Porter is also decent when it comes to defending near the rim, as evidenced by his 1.7 blocks per contest last year.
It’s unclear what the Cavs will do with Tristan Thompson in the offseason, but having someone with a more well-rounded offensive skill set and is a decent shot blocker could really help and be a potential replacement. The Cavs’ defensive struggles are well-documented and their shot blocking is even more of an issue.
Cleveland is dead-last in blocks per game, as they’re only averaging 2.6 blocks per game as a team, so adding someone who can block shots would improve the defense, which should be one of the biggest priorities in the offseason.
Next. Prioritizing the Cavs' SG/SF situation. dark
The Cavs will have a lot of guys to consider wherever that Rockets pick will fall, but in my opinion, these are three players that Cleveland should strongly consider during the 2019 NBA Draft in that range.