Cavs: Kevin Porter Jr. could be lead playmaker some in instances without Darius Garland

Kevin Porter Jr.’s passing should not be discounted for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

I’m excited to see what Kevin Porter Jr. can do in his second season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, based on what you showed in plenty of instances in year 1. As a rookie bench contributor, Porter flashes tons of potential as an on-ball creator, and in 23.2 minutes per game, had a respectable 10.0 points per outing.

Porter’s handle, athleticism, finishing ability and pull-up shooting and defensive capability on the perimeter was encouraging for the Cavs going forward. Porter’s cutting feel/finishing on that and spot-up shooting jumped out to me as well, and leading into the novel coronavirus-induced hiatus, he was showcasing more of his passing capability.

In his last 12 games active, Porter had 3.2 assists per outing, and had a healthy assist rate of 17.1 percent in that span, to pair with him having a better 12.3 points per game. When looking at next season, with Porter’s feel as a passer in being able to hit rollers, such as Larry Nance Jr. and initiate his share of kickout feeds, I’d expect to see him in a primary playmaker role some.

J.B. Bickerstaff early on after he took over as Cavs head coach hit on in what originally supposed to be more a closing stretch of the season pre-hiatus, that he wanted to see KPJ some at the 1. We should see that some next season, I’d imagine, too, and whether or not Collin Sexton is on the floor with him in those instances, when KPJ is on and Darius Garland is not, KPJ could handle lead playmaking duties and more so then.

Sans Garland, we could very well see Porter in that lead playmaker-type role for the Cleveland Cavaliers in some stretches.

In instances without Garland on the floor, in the scenario the Cavs don’t go guard in the upcoming draft, I’d like to see Bickerstaff with Porter in a lead playmaker-type role a fair amount, and again whether or not Sexton is out there with him. If that’s with him at feasibly the 2 spot formally, that’s fine.

Porter struggled with turnovers some as a rookie, which is fair to say, as he had a turnover rate of 14.0 percent, but with him more comfortable and getting more minutes as the season progressed, those were cleaned up more in February and March.

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So in instances sans Garland, again if Cleveland does not go with a guard in the upcoming draft, I’d expect Porter, who I’d think is a key sixth man-type that will end up playing starting minutes a bunch anyway, to handle lead playmaker duties a considerable amount.

Sexton did show some growth as a passer in hitting kickouts and occasional lobs, but Porter frankly has better vision and gets bigs involved more consistently via pocket passes and dishes to those in a dunker spot.

Additionally, with him having much more ability to create for himself than Dante Exum, I’d rather see KPJ more in plenty of matchups than Exum in the lead playmaking sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Porter in that spot, factoring in Dylan Windler at the 2/3, who is reportedly good to go in terms of upcoming in-bubble workouts, Larry Nance Jr. and realistically still Kevin Love, would be a nice playmaking lift for the Cavs.

Porter of course is more of a score-first player, but in instances without Garland next season, considering that even if he’s back via team-friendly deal, Matthew Dellavedova likely won’t play much, KPJ should get a bunch of lead playmaking burn.

With the constant driving threat he is and impressive finisher via changing speeds and power/body control and with him having more passing vision than Collin Sexton, sans Garland, Porter should get a good amount of lead playmaking run for Bickerstaff and company.

Though again KPJ is more so a scorer, and I believe will fill it up in at least a sixth man-type role, the Cleveland Cavaliers would benefit I’d imagine with KPJ handling a bunch of lead playmaking duties in minutes without Garland on the floor. That’s again in the case that the Cavs don’t select a guard in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Porter is highly capable in that regard, and he could give opponents some matchup issues in some run as a lead playmaker at times, whether or not that’s formally at the 1.