Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kevin Porter Jr. is a player that should have no shortage of motivation, and he seems to be the type of individual I wouldn’t bet against.
The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ reported trading for and essentially drafting of Kevin Porter Jr. is one that was a calculated risk.
KJG’s own Robbie DiPaola also touched on how Porter’s reported suspension in his one season at USC didn’t help his draft stock (of which Porter eventually slid all the way down to 30th overall), and Porter really had a disappointing 2018-19 campaign overall.
He reportedly had quad issues, too (per Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman), which didn’t help his cause.
All together, he only appeared in 21 games in his one season at USC (per Sports Reference), missing 12 games.
In his 21 games played, Porter didn’t seem to be consistently in a good rhythm, as he only put up 9.5 points per game (though it was on an efficient 56.1% effective field goal shooting clip and he shot 41.2% from three-point range, per Sports Reference), and only played 22.1 minutes per game, and started just four contests, despite being one of the most talented perimeter scorers in the country.
That being said, Porter is a player that I’m glad the Cleveland Cavaliers took a calculated chance on, ultimately in giving up four second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons (DiPaola highlighted all the reported details) and $5.0 million that would’ve expired after the draft, anyhow.
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He is a player that can create a lot of space for himself and score off-the-bounce via step-backs and pull-backs in settled offense, and is a player that, given his high-flying ability and explosiveness at a listed 6-foot-5.5 and 213 pounds (per Tankathon), should be able to excel in transition over time.
Porter has battled through adversity before in his life, and that’s why I believe he’ll be successful for the Cleveland Cavaliers, especially in a situation where he’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to grow gradually.
Wasserman also stressed how he believes Porter is one of the 2019 rookies that has something to prove in the 2019-20 season (along with fellow Cleveland draft pick Darius Garland, by the way) and I actually see that as a positive with what Porter has had to endure.
He’s been through a whole lot in his just 19 years already, as this Bleacher Report clip detailed, and with the memory of his father (as the aforementioned DiPaola emphasized) motivating him, I wouldn’t bet against Porter to succeed and become a key contributor for the Cavaliers in the next few years.
Kevin Porter Jr. gets drafted by Cavs (via Bucks) with the No. 30 pick
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2019
Here’s a look back at his incredible journey pic.twitter.com/xgW576F2Hi
Along with that unfortunate passing of his father when Porter was just four years old (I can’t even begin to imagine that), Porter’s grandfather recently passed away, and Porter was very close with him.
He posted this on Instagram about the memory of his late grandfather, who was 95 (and h/t Cavaliers Nation’s Robert Marvi).
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0bq0bNHvGS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The passing of loved ones is never easy to deal with, and again, though, Porter should have no shortage of hunger to succeed at the NBA level and as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In a situation where Porter should be able to play a considerable minutes-share in the early going of his career on the rebuilding Cavaliers, he’ll be able to showcase what he can do with a bunch of opportunities to score and playmake.
Though his USC tenure didn’t go how he wanted it to, and though he was considered by many draft pundits to be a top-10 talent in the 2019 NBA Draft and slid to 30th, that could and should be added bulletin board material for Porter as he develops hopefully into a good scorer, occasional secondary playmaker and potentially key defensive piece for the Cavaliers in the next few years.
Of course, the need for quality coaching will play into that as well, too, but I believe the Cavaliers are establishing the right culture in that way, which should help Porter in his development.
This kid’s as tough as it gets, and I can’t wait for him to show what he can do as a member of the Wine and Gold.