Cleveland’s roster shakeup has opened the door for one of its young guards to grab real minutes, and the Cavaliers need that to happen.
The departures hit the backcourt and wing depth hard. Dean Wade left for Philadelphia, Max Strus was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Cleveland also moved on from backup guards Dennis Schroder, who signed in Charlotte, and Keon Ellis, who went to Brooklyn. With Peyton Watson and Mario Hezonja added on the wing, the Cavs still find themselves thin enough that Kenny Atkinson may need to lean on youth unless the team brings in a veteran to handle backup point guard duties.
Craig Porter Jr. is the most obvious candidate to force his way into that mix. The 26-year-old is entering his fourth NBA season, all with Cleveland, after arriving as an undrafted free agent in 2023 following a strong run at Wichita State.
He has already appeared in 166 games and made 10 starts, and while his overall numbers are modest, his production climbs when he gets real run. In 52 career games of at least 20 minutes, Porter has averaged 8.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting 49% from the field and 41% from three.
Porter has flashed enough to make people notice, but not enough to lock down a permanent rotation spot. That could change now. This is a contract year, and the path to minutes looks clearer than it has in previous seasons, when veterans such as Ty Jerome, Lonzo Ball and Dennis Schroder were around to soak up those backup-guard reps.
What makes Porter intriguing is the way he fits next to Cleveland’s stars. He’s comfortable in pick-and-roll, he can find shooters, and his improved perimeter game gives him a real chance to hold up in two-way lineups.
The fit could be especially useful beside Donovan Mitchell or James Harden in reserve units. One idea would be to let Porter handle the backup point alongside Mitchell, while Harden pairs with veteran sharpshooter Sam Merrill.
Porter may be the safest bet, but he is not the only young guard with a path.
Tyrese Proctor enters his second NBA season after three years at Duke, where he played alongside Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel in his final season. Cleveland took him 49th in 2025, and the front office sees him as another value pick because of his ability to stretch the floor and play with talented teammates. In 50 games as a rookie, he spent plenty of time on the floor with Mitchell and Harden, and he shot 35% from three.
Last season, Proctor logged a lot of his minutes at shooting guard, though he can also run the point, which he did in college. At 6’4, he brings size, passing, ball handling and range.
He gave a full showcase of that package in Cleveland’s final regular-season game against the Washington Wizards, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists on 9-for-16 shooting. The offensive fit is easy to see; the question is whether his defense will hold up enough to earn Atkinson’s trust.
Then there is Meleek Thomas, the Cavaliers’ most recent draft pick and a player who already has fans buzzing. The 34th pick out of Arkansas turned heads at Las Vegas Summer League by doing the one thing that gets everyone’s attention: scoring. Thomas led the entire Summer League with 27.3 points per game over four contests, which is also the highest average for any player in NBA Summer League history among those who played at least four games.
The 6’5 guard carried himself with plenty of confidence, and his production backed it up. The challenge now is fit.
Mitchell and Harden are going to dominate the ball in the backcourt, and Cleveland also wants more creation from Evan Mobley in the frontcourt. Thomas played alongside Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. at Arkansas, so he has experience working in crowded backcourts, but he will still need to show he can function off the ball, knock down catch-and-shoot looks and defend at the NBA level.
For now, Cleveland has a simple reality in front of it: the regular season will give everyone a shot, but the playoff rotation will only be for the players who prove they belong. One of these young guards has to break through.
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Cavs Pipeline Added A Guard Worth Watching Closely
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For the Charge, the move brings more than just another name to the roster. Richmonds production with the Go-Go suggested he could be a useful long-term piece in the G League mix, and the deal also left Cleveland with a 2027 first-round G League draft pick, adding another asset to a pipeline the Cavs have leaned on for depth and development. The only real question now is how quickly Richmond can turn that opportunity into a bigger role. [Read more 🡒]
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Austin Carr was not among the names listed in the announcement, leaving one of the most recognizable voices in Cavaliers history in an uncertain spot. For a fan base that has long associated him with the teams broadcasts, the lack of an official update only adds intrigue as Cleveland moves into a new media setup and waits to see how much of the old guard remains in view. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs Big Man Is Getting One More NBA Chance
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For Cleveland fans, it is another reminder of how unique Falls NBA journey has been. His size and shot-blocking have always made him an intriguing long-shot big man, and now he has a fresh opportunity to turn that into something more with Philadelphia as he tries to win a roster spot. [Read more 🡒]