Projecting how much Cavs’ 3 two-way signings might play this season
By Dan Gilinsky
Craig Porter Jr.’s outlook
Craig Porter Jr., similarly to Mobley and Bates, had his moments in Cleveland’s run to a Las Vegas Summer League title.
Porter contributed in a number of ways in those six wins for the Cavaliers in Vegas, and his two-way play was on display throughout this past collegiate season for Wichita State. With the Shockers, he had 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.5 steals and a whopping 1.5 blocks per game in the 2022-23 campaign.
Porter’s defensive splits for a 6-foot-2 guard were otherworldly in college, and those could be a key part of the rationale for him receiving meaningful minutes this coming season with the Cavaliers. Porter’s ball pressure, basketball IQ/team instincts and his attention to detail on that end could lead to him playing either guard spot for spurts as a rookie.
On offense, Porter could potentially provide some supplemental shot creation, pick-and-roll playmaking and rim pressure for spurts as well. He could feasibly give Darius Garland and/or others a breather at times, and over his time in college, Porter got better as a passer and decision-maker.
This coming season, though, with Garland, Mitchell, Caris LeVert and Ty Jerome/Ricky Rubio in the fold, it wouldn’t appear that Porter is destined for much playing time with the Cavs.
The vast majority of meaningful minutes for Porter will likely come with the Charge in the G League, and that leads me to predicting the following minutes-share for Porter with the Cavaliers in 2023-24.
Porter’s minutes-share with the Cavs: 6.6 minutes per game, in 14 appearances
dark. Next. What would a successful 2023-24 look like for Jerome?
Maybe Porter proves that prediction wrong, but for now, he just seems to be a ways away from being a regular player for the Cavs, really to no fault of his own.