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Cleveland Cavaliers: Grading each member of the young core

By Tony Pesta

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 03: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers taunts the New York Knicks bench after scoring during the first half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 03, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 03: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers taunts the New York Knicks bench after scoring during the first half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 03, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Kevin Porter Jr.

Grade: B

Acquired with the last pick of the first round in the 2019 NBA Draft, Kevin Porter Jr. has excelled in his role with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Many expected Porter to thrive in the NBA in spite of a questionable collegiate career. His raw potential as an athlete and shot creator made him a quick fan favorite for anyone who watched his game. His peers clearly liked what they saw as they named Porter the biggest steal in the draft.

Through 40 games, Porter is proving all of his supporters right. The 19-year-old has shown his ability to have a big impact in a relatively limited role with the Cavaliers so far. He has had some strong offensive games and has become one of the squad’s best perimeter defenders.

Porter is averaging 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He has earned a starting role in just two games this season and is playing only 22.3 minutes per game, the eighth-most on the team.

As for defense, Porter led the team in deflections last month with 2.4 a game. He has shown no fear checking some of the league’s best scoring threats and is utilizing all of his athleticism to make an impact.

The only thing holding Porter back is his age. The Cavaliers have taken a very reserved approach to bring Porter into the game and have been extremely patient with his development. This will help KPJ in the long run as it’s clear he isn’t fully ready yet.

His inconsistency becomes very noticeable when looking at the games in which he played more than 25 minutes. Porter can be extremely hit or miss and has a serious turnover problem when his usage is increased. Of the 11 games that Porter has played 25+ minutes, he has committed 33 turnovers.

Nonetheless, there is no debating his potential. Porter’s per-36 minutes stats have him averaging a strong 15.2 points and 5.0 rebounds a game. He still has some work to do, but the signs of a budding star are there.

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