Cleveland Cavaliers: Final evaluations and rookie/soph grades from 2019-20

Kevin Porter Jr.

Grade: B-

Kevin Porter Jr. is the NBA’s best-kept secret. The 19-year-old wasn’t given much responsibility in his rookie season but he made the most of every opportunity.

The Cavaliers felt confident they found a hidden gem when they acquired KPJ with the last pick of the first round. His raw athleticism and potential to be a shot creator was something that awed scouts who watched him play. The only question was, could he put it all together?

This has been the challenge for Porter thus far in his young career. Developing his all-around game is something that could take quite some time and the Cavaliers have been incredibly patient with him.  Porter started in only 3 of 53 games this season and played just the eighth-most minutes on the roster.

The coaching staff made a conscious effort to ease Porter into the NBA. Rather than drop everything on his plate at once, the Cavaliers slowly increased Porter’s role and allowed him to grow at his own pace.

This has paid dividends for KPJ as he exceeds expectations each time he is given more freedom. It didn’t take long for the Cavaliers to trust Porter as a primary ball-handler and he has shaken more than a few defenders with his shifty moves.

His stop-and-go explosiveness off the dribble has made it easy for Porter to get to the rim. Here, he is finishing 71.8 of his attempts. His strong leaping ability combined with creativity around the basket has made him an elite converter in the paint.

As for shooting, Porter has shown some promise. He shot just below 40 percent from the 3-point line in his final 14 games this season but holds an overall clip of 33.3 percent on the season. He shot astronomically better in catch-and-shoot opportunities but attempted pull-up shots almost twice as much.

Porter has smooth mechanics that should make him a reliable 3-point shooter in the future. He would benefit from adjusting his shot selection and playing more to his strength as a catch-and-shoot player.

One area the Cavaliers are waiting for Porter to improve is his playmaking. He has all the talent in the world as a natural ball handler and it’s obvious he has solid court vision. A point of emphasis for KPJ moving forward will be becoming a more lethal creator in pick-and-roll situations. Once he begins to find his teammates more often, Porter will be a complete offensive player.

Then, we have to talk about defense. Due to his physical build alone, Porter is shaping up to be the best defensive prospect the Cavs have. He is quick on his feet, agile in the air and strong enough to get physical with opponents. He hasn’t made an impact on this end of the floor yet but we have to imagine it’s only a matter of time before Porter begins locking down the perimeter.

Porter doesn’t have a clear ceiling just yet. He is as versatile as they come and only his work ethic will determine how much of his potential he unlocks. Porter shined brighter than any other Cavalier this season and stands as the prospect who deserves recognition as a franchise cornerstone.