The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
By Dan Gilinsky
Porter got better over time at Wichita State, and was their primary catalyst last year
Porter had 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per contest last collegiate season for Wichita State, and was one of the bright spots in an uneven campaign for the Shockers in 2022-23. Originally a junior college product, Porter is a player who gradually got better as an on-ball presence and shot creator, and last season, he was the primary playmaker for Wichita State.
Porter is an impressive playmaker, and if given the opportunities with the Cavaliers, he could open up looks for Cleveland’s bigs, and with his driving feel, could make plays for shooters on the weak side off of that. His pick-and-roll acumen was also one of the biggest takeaways from his play in Summer League, and at least with the Charge next season, he could hone in on that aspect of his game.
He’s continually gotten better as a shot creator and shot-maker over the years as well. He didn’t necessarily shoot lights out from three last season, but with so many of Porter’s shot attempts being on-ball looks off-the-bounce, including his threes, him hitting 36.3 percent of those was nothing to sneeze at.
Plus, as we hinted at, Porter is a nice driver, and his slashing, change-of-pace polish and mid-range pull-up game all enables him to get to his spots. If he can improve from range, that would only aid him in other ways.
On the other end, Porter is a heck of a defensive player, even for a 6-foot-2 guard. He has the potential to be a good two-way contributor if given the developmental looks as well.