The Cavaliers’ rotation picture is starting to sharpen, and that’s where Craig Porter Jr. finds himself in a tricky spot.
Cleveland came into the season with its lineup essentially locked in, which pushed the real competition down the bench. Mario Hezonja got the first crack on opening night, and Meleek Thomas followed in the third game of the year. Then the injuries hit, and those extra minutes gave a few players a chance to make their case.
Thomas has done enough to make himself hard to keep off the floor. Tyrese Proctor has also stacked three strong outings in a row, showing exactly what he can bring in his second NBA season. With both guards making noise, the minutes start to disappear fast.
That’s where Porter’s situation gets complicated. He had a solid offseason and carried that into the preseason, but his game depends heavily on having the ball and controlling possessions. That’s not a luxury he’s likely to get much of with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden already in the mix.
Kenny Atkinson has used Porter in four games, and across 32 minutes he has scored five points. Without the ball in his hands, his offensive value shrinks. He’s a pass-first guard who likes to slash more than shoot, but that skill set doesn’t fit as cleanly when Proctor and Thomas can create for themselves and also work as catch-and-shoot threats.
Porter does have one clear strength: he’s the best rebounding guard on the roster. Even so, the size issue remains, and compared with the other options, he looks more one-dimensional. That matters even more with his contract guarantee date coming up in just two months.
Cleveland has two players on partial guarantees this season. Mario Hezonja’s date is November 15, and there’s little doubt that one will be picked up as he keeps playing well.
Porter’s date is January 17, which gives the Cavaliers more time to decide. They could hold onto him until then, but if they move on, that money could be redirected toward another wing. The bench already has three guards in Tyrese Proctor, Sam Merrill, and the rising Meleek Thomas, while the wing group is thin with Jaylon Tyson and Hezonja, who is really playing power forward now.
Nothing is official yet, but Porter appears to be the most likely odd man out. He’s been fun to watch after his standout run at Wichita State, though a fresh start might end up giving him the best shot to stay in the NBA.
In Other News...
Jarrett Allen Is Making Cleveland's Trade Calls Look Ridiculous
Jarrett Allen has been one of the steadier reasons the Cavaliers have stayed on track since he arrived in Cleveland during the 2020-21 season, and this year he has only strengthened that case. His scoring and rebounding have ticked up, his shot selection has looked sharper, and even his willingness to step outside and test a three-point shot has added a new layer to what he brings every night.
The bigger point for Cleveland is how closely Allens production keeps lining up with winning. He has remained a defensive anchor, and his early-season block numbers have underscored just how much ground he can cover around the rim. For a team that once had to wonder whether the move for him would age well, Allen keeps making those old trade calls look more and more lopsided. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Closing Decisions Made This Thunder Loss Even Tougher
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Meleek Thomas was part of that equation in a big way, making his first NBA start and giving Cleveland a useful burst of energy and production in extended minutes. Even with that kind of contribution, the final stretch still came down to execution and shot-making, and the Cavaliers were left with a loss that stung because they were right there until the end. [Read more 🡒]
Cleveland Cant Afford To Lose This Rare Power Bat
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Adell hit .244 with a .740 OPS in 48 regular-season games, and Plutos point was less about the stat line than the fit. With the Guardians facing budget limits and another round of labor uncertainty ahead, he argued the front office should be willing to absorb the arbitration cost if it means keeping a hitter who brings a skill set the roster does not have much of, especially when compared with other pending decisions such as free agent Foster Griffin. [Read more 🡒]