Craig Porter Jr. made the kind of preseason statement that can force a coaching staff to look twice.
In Cleveland’s exhibition opener, a loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday, the Cavaliers got a first real look at the battle brewing for the backup guard spot. Tyrese Proctor, Meleek Thomas and Porter Jr. all had chances to make their case, and each flashed something.
Proctor finished 2-for-6 from the field in 21 minutes. Thomas sparked Cleveland with a seven-point run in the third quarter, then ended up 5-for-13 shooting and 1-for-7 from deep while adding three steals.
But Porter Jr. was the one who stood out most.
The fourth-year guard is entering a contract year, and he played like someone who knows every possession matters. In only 16 minutes, he piled up 10 assists and didn’t turn the ball over once. He kept putting pressure on Boston in pick-and-roll actions, getting into the lane and creating looks for shooters on the perimeter and cutters heading to the rim.
He didn’t stop there. Porter Jr. added three rebounds, two steals and a block on Baylor Scheierman, and he also knocked down a catch-and-shoot three from the corner. For a Cavaliers team trying to sort out its bench rotation, that’s the kind of all-around line that gets attention fast.
Kenny Atkinson has a real decision on his hands. Thomas was the first of the three backup guards to come off the bench, which suggests he’s been ahead in camp so far. Still, Porter Jr.’s showing against the Celtics gave him a strong argument heading into the next round of preseason action.
The Cavaliers won’t play again until Sunday evening, when they host the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. That game will also be Cleveland’s first national television appearance, airing on ESPN.
The Cavs will also be hoping James Harden can suit up Sunday after he sat out Thursday with right ankle soreness.
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Early exhibition play has already given Cleveland something to watch, with Hezonja showing a stronger frame and more burst than he had in his previous NBA run. If that carries over, he could push for a meaningful role and perhaps give the bench a different look than Dean Wade did as a reserve, which would be welcome depth for a team trying to fortify its wings before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
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Tyrese Proctor Just Made Clevelands Guard Battle A Lot More Real
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Now the guard battle is looking a lot more crowded, with Proctor pushing to join Craig Porter Jr. and Meleek Thomas in the mix for backup minutes. The Cavaliers still appear to be sorting through what they want most from that spot, especially on the defensive end, so there is no clean answer yet. But Proctors growth has made this more than a placeholder competition, and that is exactly the kind of development that can linger deep into the preseason. [Read more 🡒]