Cleveland Cavaliers: Two bold predictions for Kevin Porter Jr. for 2020-21

Bold prediction #2 for KPJ in year two with the Cleveland Cavaliers: He’ll place top three in assists per game on the squad

The second bold prediction I have for Porter in year two would be him placing top three on the Cleveland Cavaliers in assists per game in 2020-21.

Last season, he had 2.2 assists per outing, which would not likely indicate he’s going to be in this ball park, really, next season.

That said, Porter did display encouraging passing vision/feel in hitting dump-offs to Nance and others, and as the year progressed, we saw him make extra passes to shooters such as Cedi Osman more consistently and more kickouts.

To me, with Porter taking a lead on-ball role throughout stretches of games much more next season, and perhaps in crunch time often, I see him capable of meeting this second bold prediction of placing top three on Cleveland in assists per game.

In his last 12 games active before missing what would turn out to be the Cavs’ last three games leading into the novel coronavirus-induced hiatus due to a concussion, KPJ averaged 3.2 assists per outing, which placed tied with Nance at fifth on the Cavs.

While I’d fully expect Garland to lead Cleveland in assists per outing again next season, or at least in the event Cleveland does not select a lead guard in the 2020 NBA Draft, Porter could very well function as a primary playmaker next season a bunch, anyhow.

Granted, it does seem to be a high possibility that the expiring Matthew Dellavedova could be re-signed. Whether or not that’s the case, though, with Porter showing nice passing vision last season, this second bold prediction is bold again, sure, but not completely out of the question.

Playing into that, is again KPJ likely getting more burn alongside Love and others, and I’d imagine Dylan Windler’s shooting ability/cutting prowess will lead to a really nice two-man game with Porter.

That’s if Windler can be mostly healthy; he missed all of 2019-20 due to complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg. Albeit I firmly believe he and Porter can be quite the spark, at least off the bench, for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020-21.

Whether or not these bold predictions can happen for KPJ, he’s poised for a big year two for the Wine and Gold.