The Cavaliers have had a rough season, with a coaching change and struggles in their young frontcourt among the issues. However, they may have stumbled onto something special in their 2019 No. 30 overall pick.
“There’s no one on the [Cavaliers] with real All-Star potential,” a former scout told Hoops Rumors. “If you told me one player will take his game to that level, I’d bet on Kevin Porter Jr.”
Porter was expected to go much higher in the 2019 draft but the Cavaliers happily scooped him up with the last of their three selections in the first round. KPJ has appeared in 45 games for Cleveland this season, assuming a scorer/facilitator role off the bench.
The Cavaliers’ new coach J.B. Bickerstaff has impressed since taking over the role and he has the organization’s full support, as many believe in his ability to develop the young talent on the roster, which includes Porter.
Here’s more from Cleveland:
- The Cavs had interest in coach Avery Johnson prior to inking John Beilein to a contract this past offseason, as I relayed on Heavy.com. Johnson previously played in the NBA in addition to coaching for the Nets and Mavs.
- Bickerstaff believes the future is bright with Porter and No. 4 overall pick Darius Garland on the team, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com said. “I think the sky’s the limit for both of them,” Bickerstaff said.
- GM Koby Altman is traveling overseas to scout draft prospect Deni Avdija, Fedor relays in a separate piece. Avdija, who is a 6’9″ wing playing in Israel, could be one of the top picks in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Kevin Porter Jr was projected what Top 5 at one point? So I’m sure a bunch of scouts thought the same thing.
the team has alot of talent they just need a coach who know the NBA game and not some old school guy in his 60s who never coach nba before.
No one on the roster with AS potential? Isn’t Kevin Love a multiple time All Star? He might be past his prime, but he is still the Cav with the most talent.
Was.
The guy is still averaging a double double. I’m sticking with IS.
I think “was” is definitely the correct word here. Making the All Star team in the east isn’t exactly difficult these days with at least 75% of the top players in the West. And Kevin Love hasn’t made it in two years now, plus he’ll be 32 next season.
Scouts right… Sexton ceiling is McCollum, nothing wrong with being McCollum. Just not an AS 2-guard. Garland could be Kemba 2.0, legit star point but stuck in purgatory. Garland isn’t ‘exciting’ but has a real long term great PG value. Cleveland loses him. Blah. Wow is Clev roster void of any semblance of hope at this point. It’s all in on Garland, Porter Jr, Sexton… then this hopeful Top 3 pick in a meh top of draft.
They want out of Sexton. Will be a Sixer this offseason.
The article is about Porter & Garland not Sexton. Read it, then learn what “hope” means… It is not limited to this year. Check out the highlights.
What is this about losing Garland?– purgatory?– At his age his best situation is starting on the regular, with contemporaries. Culver, White & Jerome usually have to sit for teams no better.
Garland is not a playoff-level PG now, like Morant is.
Keeping TT and Love was pointless. They need to move Exum, Nance, and Love this offseason. Run the 3 guards with Drummond and Osman.
All the offers for Love would have required the Cavs to give up assets to move him, which goes completely against what they should be doing. Portland offered expiring contracts, but that doesn’t really help much since they’re not in immediate need of cap space.
Keeping Thompson was always going to happen unless a team offered a first rounder, which was never likely. It makes more sense for everyone involved to keep TT and his Bird rights so that he can either sign an extension with them or go somewhere else in a sign and trade so that he can make more money.
Moving Exum would also be pretty tough, and there’s more value in giving him an extended shot to see if a change of scenery brings out a little untapped potential than just flipping him for another contract. Moving Nance doesn’t make a lot of sense, especially if they’d also move Love, because Thompson is also hitting free agency. Maybe one of them would make sense to go, but not both.
A pivotal game, given a new fitting structure succeeding. Coach may want Garland & Porter as the starters, a good thing IMO, leaving out Sexton– the next Lou Williams.
Porter needs support but the reward is high and Bickerstaff can do it. The link shows him showing off a new Joker tattoo, in a pose similar to what Lebron was doing with AD.
The Cavs finished with a big frontline of Love, TT & Nance, and Porter at the 2.
Would look to draft Deni Avdija and build around him with Garland Porter Nance and Drummond.
Outside of these guys I’d keep Osman and Windler but I’d make everyone else open for trade including Love, Sexton and Thompson.
I personally would let Thompson walk in FA and use some of that 18mil and Dellys 9.5mil to bring in some younger free agents that may also work around Deni and Garland. For example I’d look at Dario Saric, Josh Jackson and Harry Giles. Outside of that I’d suggest also maybe looking for a vet PG to help Garland maybe someone like Augustine.
They won’t have much money to throw around. Tristan prolly gets a S&T and a choice of teams to go to. Augustin will be too expensive. Memphis will still want JJ to pay off.
Avdija is good, but he needs to work on his shot and his FT% is awful. Lemelo Ball with a 6-10 span may be able to defend 3s but he can’t shoot either. Right now it looks like Okoro of Auburn with the thighs and reflexes… not exciting especially since he’s not playing! The Cavs should maybe trade for one of last year’s SFs.