Craig Porter Jr.’s Minutes Are in Jeopardy - and It’s Not About His Performance
Craig Porter Jr. gave the Cavaliers exactly what they needed when things were unraveling. With Lonzo Ball struggling to find rhythm and reliability, Porter stepped in and steadied the ship.
He didn’t just fill a gap - he kept the Cavs afloat when the backcourt rotation was in flux. But as Cleveland returns to action after the All-Star break, Porter’s role is on shaky ground, and it has little to do with how he's played.
The Cavs’ front office made it clear at the trade deadline: they’re going all in. And with that aggressive push came a wave of new depth that’s reshaped the rotation. Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis were the headline additions, and both bring skillsets that overlap with Porter’s - but with more experience and, in Schroder’s case, a proven playoff pedigree.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson has never been shy about using his bench, often going deeper than most coaches in the league. But even with that tendency, the numbers just don’t add up in Porter’s favor. The backcourt is suddenly crowded, and the path to consistent minutes has narrowed fast.
The Numbers Game
Porter carved out a role earlier this season largely because of necessity. Lonzo Ball’s return didn’t go as planned, and Darius Garland was sidelined for extended stretches. That opened the door, and Porter walked through it with confidence, averaging over 20 minutes a night since late December.
But now, Garland is working his way back, and James Harden - who’s been remarkably durable in recent years - is here to stay. Harden played 79 games last season and 72 the year before.
Say what you will about his age or style, but availability has been one of his underrated strengths lately. That alone makes it harder for Porter to find the floor.
Then there’s the frontcourt. Evan Mobley, Dean Wade, and Max Strus are all expected to return to the lineup soon, further tightening the rotation. And while Porter doesn’t directly compete with them for minutes, their presence allows Atkinson to shift lineups and lean on more versatile combinations - often at the expense of a third-string guard.
A Deep Rotation, With or Without Injuries
If Cleveland stays relatively healthy - a big “if” given recent history - the rotation is fairly straightforward. The starting five likely features Harden, Donovan Mitchell, rookie Jaylon Tyson, Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Off the bench, you’re looking at Schroder, Ellis, Strus, Sam Merrill, and one of Wade or Nae’Qwan Tomlin.
That’s 10 deep before even mentioning Porter. And while injuries are inevitable over the course of a long season, the Cavs are clearly hoping to enter the postseason at full strength. If that happens, Porter’s role could shrink significantly - not because he’s done anything wrong, but because the team around him has simply gotten better.
What Comes Next
Porter will still get his chances. Atkinson isn’t the kind of coach who glues young players to the bench without reason.
And in today’s NBA, depth can go from luxury to necessity in a heartbeat. But the reality is this: for a player who’s been logging over 20 minutes per game since Christmas, a cutback feels almost inevitable.
There’s no doubt Porter has earned the respect of the locker room and coaching staff. He stepped up when the team needed him most. But with the Cavs eyeing a deep playoff run and leaning on veteran reinforcements, his minutes are trending in the wrong direction - not because of his play, but because the stakes have changed.