Cavs: 3 players that’d benefit most from selection of Deni Avdija in 2020 NBA Draft

Kevin Porter Jr.

Porter Jr. has quickly established himself as a fan favorite and could become a star in this league. Falling all the way to the 30th pick overall in which Cleveland reportedly acquired him via trade of cash considerations and future second-round picks, KPJ has proven to be perhaps the steal of the 2019 NBA Draft.

Throughout the season, KPJ has been oozing with potential and has shown the ability to score, playmake, and defend from an individual sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since returning from a left knee sprain, KPJ has had a great stretch from January 28th to February 12th where he averaged 16.1 points on 51.9 percent shooting from the field and 50.0 percent from deep, according to Basketball Reference, and another great stretch a bit following that.

Porter is currently out indefinitely due to him being in the NBA’s concussion protocol, though, but hopefully the Cavs exercise the necessary precaution there, and they will.

Looking at a benefit that adding Deni would have on KPJ, Deni’s spacing abilities, assuming he can keep progressing as a shooter, would give KPJ more room to operate. Porter Jr. looks to be an iso/pick-and-roll-heavy player and for him to be successful, he is going to need as much spacing as possible.

Clearly, the Cavaliers are more effective offensively when Porter Jr. has been playing alongside a floor spacer such as Osman, a 38.5% three point shooter this season, as opposed to when Porter Jr. has been playing alongside a non-floor spacer such as McKinnie, a 19.7% three point shooter this season, according to Basketball Reference.

Also, adding another wing would allow KPJ to strictly be a shooting guard where he has found his most success playing.

As far as the third Cavs’ player that comes to mind that would benefit most by Cleveland drafting Avdija, it’s their most trusted inside-out threat.