Kevin Porter Jr. has likely played his final game with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The NBA rumor mill is about to add one very intriguing name into the fold, as all signs point to Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kevin Porter Jr. having talked his way out of The Land.
Porter, who has been hit with weapons charges and accused of assault, will either be traded or released by Cleveland after throwing food around the locker room in a meltdown following new addition Taurean Prince being assigned his old locker.
The Cavs are expected to trade or release Kevin Porter Jr. after a locker room “outburst,” per @joevardon, @ByJasonLloyd, @kelseyyrusso, @ShamsCharania
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 18, 2021
Porter reportedly threw food after his locker was given to Taurean Prince. pic.twitter.com/wTmbESjUnE
Porter averaged 10.0 points per game as a rookie, showing that the talent is there if his behavior is kept in check. He and his minuscule $1.7 million salary might be worth a roll of the dice for these three teams.
These three teams should inquire about a Kevin Porter Jr. trade
The New York Knicks have made massive strides forward this season, as Tom Thibodeau has, predictably, made them into one of the best defensive teams in the league. Unfortunately, outside of the resurgent Julius Randle and improving RJ Barrett, they aren’t playing with a full deck on offense. Furthermore, their point guard question has yet to be answered, as Elfrid Payton is currently papering over the cracks following Dennis Smith Jr. falling out of the rotation and Frank Ntilikina refusing to take any sort of leap on the offensive end.
If the Knicks want to pick up a lottery ticket with the potential to become a game-changer on the offensive end in 2021 and beyond, they should consider Porter.
A former five-star recruit who became an offensive juggernaut at USC, Porter’s ability to put the ball in the basket translated to the NBA, as he proved he can score despite horrendously basic coaching, a reserve role and a lack of offensive talent around him to draw attention away from him. Porter has all the talent of a top-10 pick, and a strict disciplinarian could give Porter the structure he needs to get his mind back on the right track and help the Knicks compete for a playoff spot.
The San Antonio Spurs, once models of consistency on both ends of the floor, are starting to sink into anonymity, as the lack of offensive creativity behind DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge is helping them sink to the bottom of the Western Conference totem pole. Players like Derrick White and Keldon Johnson have been solid additions, but the failure of Lonnie Walker to become a truly deadly perimeter scorer has the Spurs searching for answers.
Porter is both an expert ball-handler, quality spot-up shooter and slasher that can get to the rim. At 6-foot-4 with enough bulk to withstand some contact, he could become one of the more versatile offensive weapons in San Antonio.
If Gregg Popovich, a legend who espouses discipline and keeping outside noise to a minimum, can’t get Porter back on the straight and narrow, it might be time for Porter to consider another line of work. He could step right into San Antonio and give them a playmaker that could help aid an offensive turnaround, provided that Popovich and some solid gold infrastructure keep him out of trouble.
For basketball reasons, the move makes sense. Luka Doncic is an unfathomably talented player, but he can try to do way too much at times. By adding Porter as a backup point guard or combo guard that can play alongside Doncic in the starting lineup or as an ace reserve off of the bench, some of the pressure could be taken off of the Slovenian superstar. However, the Dallas Mavericks are not only the perfect fit for purely what happens on the court, but owner Mark Cuban has also proven to be an invaluable asset when it comes to getting people back on the right track.
Delonte West, who has very publicly struggled with homelessness and drug addiction, was checked into a rehab clinic with the help of Cuban. West has since put his life back together, even getting a job at the same clinic he was treated at.
If Cuban can provide West with enough ammunition to turn his life around, he could do the same for Porter by helping him stay out of trouble. His basketball skills have never been questioned; he just needs the right environment around him both on and off the court. Under Cuban and Rick Carlisle in Dallas, Porter could develop into an ace sixth man on a playoff team while also improving the quality of his life off the court.