3 Reasons to believe in Cleveland Cavaliers’ young core

1. Kevin Porter Jr.

Potential: All-Around Star

Cleveland cautious with Kevin Porter Jr. in his rookie season. He is by far the rawest prospect of anyone on the roster, his inexperience forcing the coaching staff to restrict his responsibility most of the time. Nonetheless, Porter showed the world that he is a star in the making with strong performances throughout last season.

In terms of physical build, Porter is exactly what NBA teams are looking for nowadays. A muscular 6’4″ guard with a 6’9″ wingspan and explosive athleticism. These physical attributes, combined with his natural feel for the game, could one day turn him into an elite two-way player.

As previously stated, Porter was limited in his role with the team. He played just above 20 minutes per game and only exceeded 30 minutes a total of seven times his rookie season. In these games, Porter averaged 17.9 points on 46.7 percent shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

It wasn’t a lack of talent that caused Porter’s shortage of minutes. Rather, it was a wary approach from the front office who didn’t want to overwhelm the 19-year-old with too much all at once. Porter’s youth showed at various points of the season, highlighted by games of poor shooting and high turnovers.

Still, Porter was an effective offensive player. He ranked in the 91st percentile for cuts to the hoop, converting on 33-of-39 touches in the paint. He shot 41.9 percent on drives too, hovering around league average.

As for shooting, Porter was an inconsistent threat from deep. He connected on only 33.5 percent of his total attempts, but shot more accurately in catch-and-shoot scenarios, bumping his clip to above 40 percent. He was at his best as a spot-up shooter, drilling 42.9 percent.

Things will open up more for Porter if he continues to make the correct reads. The Cavaliers slowly gave him more responsibility in the second half of the season and he responded by averaging 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game after Jan. 31.

Porter has had some electric performances in which he took opponents off the dribble and scored at will. His career-high 30 points versus Miami and 6-of-9 3-point shooting night against Houston stick out. But, he ranked in the 38th percentile for isolation scoring on the season, an indication that he has yet to become a reliable shot creator for himself.

Furthermore, Porter leaves much to be desired on defense. Despite his physical tools, Porter posted a horrid defensive rating and had little impact on the Cavaliers’ efforts. This is an area he must improve as he has too much potential to skate by as a poor defender.

It was a bumpy rookie campaign for Porter, but his lows weren’t that bad. The positives he displayed all outweigh the few negatives, most of which can be attributed to his young age. He is a smooth operator who should be able to run pick-and-rolls at a high-level soon. If he manages to reach his max potential on defense, Porter will be an all-around star in this league.