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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cavaliers had no choice.
Kevin Porter Jr. – a 6-foot-4 wing who teased fans, teammates, coaches and executives with a promising rookie season peppered with mesmerizing flashes of star qualities on the pitch – was not going to reach his potential here in Cleveland.
Head coach JB Bickerstaff, who volunteered to oversee Porter’s development at the start of the 2019-20 season when Bickerstaff was still John Beilein’s main assistant, couldn’t always communicate with Porter – even so Bickerstaff is known throughout the league as a great communicator, leader and builder of culture.
General manager Koby Altman, who began to bond with Porter during his irregular freshman season at USC, often checking in with the struggling youngster via text and spending a lot of time on campus getting to know him, couldn’t communicate with Porter, either. . At least not enough to pull him back after months of missteps.
“The organization has done everything for him and more,” a league source told cleveland.com. “They went above and beyond. They gave it more of a chance than most franchises would.
Now the Houston Rockets will try to save Porter from the destruction of his career – a hopeful start that quickly exploded with too much free time during a prolonged offseason by a pandemic, a string of poor decisions away from court and the immaturity that followed him, first from Seattle to USC and then to college in Cleveland. Always a step forward and a few steps back.
For the Rockets, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move – a laudable bet for an organization that recently handed James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets and has assistant coach John Lucas, who is used to helping. off-site reclamation projects. problems. If that doesn’t work, the Rockets move on, not giving up anything, given that the heavily protected second-round draft pick the Cavs get is unlikely to pass.
For the Cavs, this is a major setback in their rebuilding.
His teammates viewed Porter as the most talented of the young nucleus, the player with the most likely path to stardom. Members of the front office considered him untouchable when rival teams entered into earlier trade negotiations. Porter was meant to be the one – the centerpiece of this reconstruction with the ability to alter the trajectory, the phenomenon they stole at the end of the first turn.
Even after an off-season arrest, Porter was still in Cleveland’s long-term vision, choosing to choose his third-year option.
What could have been. Flash before Thursday. The Cavs took on a job that was essentially a dumping ground for wages. They had two options: treat Porter for very little or give him up altogether. They chose the less painful, securing wiggle room below the luxury tax and an open list spot reserved for a backup point guard to help fill the short-term void with Matthew Dellavedova sidelined indefinitely in due to a concussion.
Make no mistake: no one looks good here.
Not Porter, who has had several opportunities to show the organization that he has learned from his mistakes, to prove he has the emotional maturity to deal with whatever goes to become an NBA player. The Cavs set goals for him and Porter didn’t always work for them, feeling disrespected with the organization that had held him so long. They hoped he would reciprocate or just respond in a different and more mature way. They also hoped Porter would make better choices about those around him.
The Cavs sympathized with him, acknowledging his chaotic past and the massive burden he carried at such a young age, moving his family to Cleveland so they could be cared for and safe. Despite the extra time, effort, resources and care, it didn’t work. How do you help someone who doesn’t want to help themselves? How many times will you give before the frustration mounts and exhaustion overwhelms you?
Altman doesn’t look good either. He took a bet almost two years ago, paying out $ 5 million and giving up four second-round picks for Porter’s draft rights. The Cavs have worked tirelessly to build up these assets. They aren’t able to throw them away, even though they’re just second-round players. The Cavs knew all the reasons behind Porter’s project night collapse. They did their homework, spoke to countless people, and met Porter personally. Although other teams took him off the board, the Cavs were in love with his advantage, seeing a Harden-like offensive package and tantalizing two-way traits.
Their thinking process: what is it like for this child when we provide him with a structure he never had, a consistent routine he needs, good eating habits, a better sleep schedule, training, professional coaching, a few veterans to show him the way and Bickerstaff as a relatable mentor?
It wasn’t perfect the first year. There were some slippages. But his rookie season made it a wise bet.
Porter averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He was one of the highlights of a sometimes miserable 19-win season that ended abruptly in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He faced Harden in a gripping showdown last December. Porter sparked a return in February against the Miami Heat, scoring a career-high 30 points.
Bickerstaff often referred to Porter as one of the top passers on the list and the possibility of using the 20-year-old swingman as a game keeper was excited. Porter developed a close relationship with assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who spoke of his love for the youngster.
Then everything changed over a long offseason. Porter walked away.
In August 2020, he was charged with punching a woman in the face. In October, Porter posted a black square to his Instagram with the message “Would you ever like to see the end of your time?” This incident led to Cavs officials and teammates reaching out to him, making sure he was okay and offering to help. He was involved in a car crash in November – arrested and charged with improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, failing to control the vehicle and possession of marijuana. All of these charges were dismissed.
Porter’s days with the Cavs reached a breaking point last Friday when he got angry after learning his place in the locker room had been given to newly acquired forward Taurean Prince. Porter had returned to practice with the Cavs a day earlier – part of an undisclosed reinstatement plan.
That night, Altman walked in and tried to talk about the problem. But Porter didn’t want to calm down. Food was thrown away. Tensions mounted. The verbal exchange between Porter and Altman was “uncomfortable for everyone,” said a source who witnessed it.
Friday was the highlight of too many mistakes, including disrespecting teammates and staff.
As a result of this confrontation, Porter was asked to clean his locker and was kicked out of the building, exiled from the team while the reception determined next steps.
“We all want to see Kevin succeed, and I still feel it,” Bickerstaff said on Monday. “So whatever happens in the future for him, I hope only the best for him. And it’s part of our responsibility as coaches to give everyone our maximum and to try to make the most of each situation. I can say we did.
Bickerstaff’s message centers on unity, collective ownership, responsibility and discipline. The Cavs are trying to build a culture that is not yet firmly established. A surprising 7-7 start pushed them in the right direction, currently in the picture of the Eastern Conference playoffs a month after that odd season. They couldn’t risk all of this for a player, no matter how talented. They had already played enough on him.
The Cavs didn’t want that. They stood with Porter after his arrest. They called him repeatedly as a good kid deep down. It was not an impulsive decision.
Maybe there were things they could have done better. The same goes for Porter. Bickerstaff and Altman will surely think about it. They will pass the mirror test. But moving on was the best – and the only – option for everyone involved. Porter was the only one who did not live up to organizational standards. What would he say about core values if he continued to enjoy preferential treatment and endless opportunity? It was a message. Words in action.
With Porter gone, attention turns to the rest of Cleveland’s young core. Collin Sexton replaces Porter as the cornerstone. Low-maintenance Sexton has been one of the Eastern Conference’s best players in a breathtaking six-month stretch dating back to last December. His recent play helps soften the stinging blow.
The arrival of Jarrett Allen is a nice boost, giving the Cavs a 22-year-old center of the future who becomes the defensive backbone. Dylan Windler is set to return and posed a threat to Porter’s playing time. Taurean Prince, the centerpiece of the Allen agreement, is still only 26 years old. Isaac Okoro has impressed the Cavs since being drafted fifth overall in November. Darius Garland showed an exciting growth before suffering a sprained right shoulder. Also don’t forget Larry Nance Jr. Having them all at least helps.
The Cavs preferred culture to talent. They deserve to be recognized. But that doesn’t change the end result: Cleveland has lost one of its precious – and most important – building blocks.
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