What might be Craig Porter Jr.’s pathway to minutes with Cavs?

Porter’s defensive playmaking and instincts jump out

Porter’s defense could be a key part of the selling point for Cavaliers minutes. He’s 6-foot-2, which is not ideal size for an NBA guard, and there’s plenty of others involved.

Despite his size, the ball pressure he puts on opposing backcourt players could lead to him causing those players to exhaust valuable time in set possessions, and even in playing that aggressive style, he does not often get beat.

Where Porter’s skill on that end definitely pops is the off-ball element there, however, and he could make a difference in his minutes regularly for that play.

Porter led Wichita State in steals and blocks last season, and had 1.5 steals and blocks per outing on average; his steal and block rates in 2022-23 were 2.7 and 5.0 percent. That latter mark was ridiculous for a guard, and his all-around defensive impact at his size is incredible. The feel and recognition he has to make plays as a helping defender near the basket and as a rotator is so impressive, to relay what Nathan Grubel of No Ceilings expressed when discussing Porter’s skill set pre-draft.

If Porter were to land minutes, even at the next level, his defensive playmaking abilities could be a significant reason for him finding a way to have more opportunities at certain points of next season.