The Cavaliers have a real decision to make at backup point guard, and Craig Porter Jr. is right in the middle of it.
James Harden’s starting job is settled whenever he decides to re-sign, so the real battle is for the minutes behind him and Donovan Mitchell. That picture gets even tighter if Dennis Schröder, the 12-year veteran, is traded in the coming weeks. If that happens, the Cavs will have three guards fighting for one lane: rookie Meleek Thomas, second-year guard Tyrese Proctor, and Porter, who is entering his fourth season with the team.
For Porter, this feels like a make-or-break stretch. He arrived in Cleveland as an undrafted free agent out of Wichita State in the summer of 2023, and he forced his way into the picture the hard way.
At 6-foot-2, he did something eye-catching as a senior: he led his college team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. That strong summer in Cleveland earned him a two-way deal, and eventually a guaranteed contract.
He also gave the Cavs a moment they won’t forget soon. In an NBA Cup game against the Sixers on national TV, Porter scored over Joel Embiid in overtime and finished with 12 points and nine assists. That night made one thing clear: he had the kind of craft and grit that can stick in the league.
But the last two years have also shown how hard it can be for him to hold onto a rotation spot. He has had chances and made them count, including a game against Charlotte last season when he put up 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and four blocks - a stat line no Cavs player had ever posted in a game. Even so, it still hasn’t been enough to lock down consistent minutes.
There were stretches when Lonzo Ball was getting the run over him before Ball was eventually moved. After Schröder arrived at the deadline, Porter barely saw the floor. Ty Jerome’s breakout the year before made the situation even tougher.
Now the pressure is back on Porter in a different way. If he can’t establish himself this season, his time in Cleveland could run out.
Thomas, meanwhile, made a strong case at the Vegas Summer League and showed the Cavs’ staff why he deserves real NBA minutes. The second-round pick out of Arkansas looked ready to contribute right away, which is not ideal news for Porter, who might have been in line for the backup point guard job on opening night.
That doesn’t shut the door on Porter, though. Thomas and Proctor may not be everyday guards, and the three of them will all be in the mix for time. Thomas and Proctor bring similar looks, with Thomas offering a bit more flash and athleticism.
There’s still a strong case for Porter. His defense stands out, and he has already shown he can make plays on that end.
He’s also proven he can handle the ball and create for others. Chasedown blocks are not something you expect from a 6-foot-2 guard, but Porter has never been a normal case.
Even as the oldest player in this competition, nothing is guaranteed. He has a real shot to earn the job, and the Cavs would love for that to happen.
Still, with a crowded guard room, one of these players is going to be squeezed out. It’s a good problem to have, and it could end up pushing all of them.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Finally Make The Backcourt Move Fans Knew Was Coming
The Cavaliers have been searching for a cleaner fit in the backcourt, and they took a step toward it by agreeing to move Dennis Schroder and cash to Charlotte. Schroder, who had joined Cleveland earlier and appeared in 30 games, is on his way out after a short stay, a sign the front office was willing to keep adjusting around its guard rotation rather than sit tight.
Coming back is Tre Mann, who has spent the last two and a half years with the Hornets and now gets a fresh start in Cleveland. The deal also gives the Cavaliers some salary-cap relief, an added benefit for a team trying to balance present needs with a little more flexibility going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Peyton Watson Just Became A Much Bigger Nuggets Story
Jonathan Kumingas offseason drift has started to change the conversation for teams still shopping for wing help, and the Cavaliers are part of that shift. What looked early on like a straightforward pursuit of a new deal for Kuminga has instead turned into a slower, more complicated negotiation, with his camps contract demands making the market harder to read and keeping several interested teams from moving forward decisively.
With that path less clear, Cleveland has had reason to keep a closer eye on Peyton Watson as an alternative, and that matters because the Nuggets forward has become a more attainable name in the same tier of upgrade talks. The Lakers still loom around the Kuminga discussion, but for the Cavs the more interesting development is how quickly the board can change when one target becomes difficult and another starts to look like the cleaner fit. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Opened The Door For Another Offseason Move
The Cavaliers have been busy shaping their books as much as their rotation, and the latest move gives them a little more breathing room for what comes next. Cleveland sent Dennis Schroder and cash to Charlotte and brought back Tre Mann, a swap that trims salary and fits into a larger roster-management plan as the team keeps an eye on future flexibility.
That kind of maneuver matters because the Cavs are not just filling out a roster, they are positioning themselves for another offseason decision if the right opportunity comes along. With room still available under both apron thresholds, Cleveland has options to keep exploring larger deals, including the potential sign-and-trade angle involving Peyton Watson. [Read more 🡒]