Cavs must be ultracautious with Kevin Porter Jr. in concussion protocol

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie wing Kevin Porter Jr. has reportedly been placed in the NBA concussion protocol, and the team must be ultracautious in this scenario.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing better lately under the direction of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, and though they’ve lost four straight games, the team’s been banged up and they are playing with outstanding effort.

One of the players that has definitely established himself as one of Cleveland’s key pieces for the future is wing Kevin Porter Jr.

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In mostly a bench role after even after a reported left knee sprain he suffered in January, Porter has averaged 13.3 points per game and shot 39.4 percent from three-point land over his last 15 games, to go with 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists according to NBA.com.

It’s clear that Bickerstaff and others, such as Larry Nance Jr. and Kevin Love, are really high on Porter.

The 19-year-old rookie has exceeded expectations, really, and though he’s only had a 34.0 percent effective field goal shooting clip on pull-ups this season, per NBA.com’s shot tracking data, he’s shown the ability to consistently generate separation effortlessly with his tight handle.

Furthermore, the rookie’s already shown he’s more than capable of changing speeds and his strength and athleticism has enabled him to convert on an impressive 68.7 percent of his attempts in the restricted area, per NBA.com’s shot tracking data.

Porter hitting 40.7 of his catch-and-shoot three-point attempts has been encouraging, along with his playmaking feel, in pick-and-roll situations, in particular, as well.

If KPJ can cut down on his turnovers, as he’s had a 14.0 percent turnover rate this season, his ceiling in PnR situations is through the roof, I believe.

That will likely be trimmed down gradually with more experience, though.

With how Porter has been coming on, it’s unfortunate that he took a shot to his head in the first quarter of Cleveland’s close loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, and was unable to return in that one.

In relation to that, Porter has reportedly been placed in the NBA concussion protocol, h/t The Athletic‘s Kelsey Russo, and the Cleveland Cavaliers need to be ultracautious with their rookie with this head injury.

Bickerstaff would then touch on in postgame, h/t Sports Illustrated‘s Sam Amico, how “he thought Porter may have suffered the injury while battling for a rebound.”

As Amico noted, Porter is going to be out indefinitely due to the concussion protocol, and of course, KPJ will need to pass a series of tests before he’s available again for the Wine and Gold. A Cavs’ team press release noted how Porter’s “status and return to play will be updated as appropriate.”

Porter was no longer available in that Boston game from seemingly banging his head, and he accidentally was not available to start when he was going to with Darius Garland out due to a reported left groin strain, as KPJ didn’t realize his jersey was not on under his warmups. It was nothing to really make a big deal of, but at any rate, KPJ was NOT here for the hate.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, their injuries are piling up. Andre Drummond (left groin strain) missed Cleveland’s last two games against the C’s and Utah Jazz, Tristan Thompson (left knee contusion) has missed the last three, and Garland has missed the last two.

Dante Exum (left ankle sprain) is out for a while and Alfonzo McKinnie is still not back yet from reported plantar fasciitis in his left foot, either, so Cleveland will have to rely on Cedi Osman a ton at the 3 position, who has hit a rough patch.

We’ll likely see Matthew Dellavedova in more, too, with KPJ suffering this head injury.

How long Porter will be out is uncertain at this juncture, but it’s clear that with his importance for this rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers team going forward, the Wine and Gold need to be ultracautious with Porter.

In the mean time, Cavs fans can keep looking forward to scoring explosions from Collin Sexton, who is fresh off two straight career-high scoring totals with 32 and 41 points (on 17-of-30 shooting) against the Jazz and Celtics, respectively.

Sexton also became just the third player in Cavaliers’ history to eclipse the 40-point mark in a game before he turned 22, joining LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, per Cavs Notes (and Collin had six assists, too).

Again, though, please don’t rush KPJ back, Cavs. I’m sure the Cavs’ medical staff are more than used to dealing with concussion-related symptoms, anyhow.