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Kevin Porter Jr. averaged 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 50 games last season.
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cavaliers went to extremes to help forward Kevin Porter Jr. He took them too far.
Cleveland has decided to switch from the troubled and talented player, a person familiar with his position on the team told The Associated Press on Monday.
The Cavs are touring Porter to see if they find a business partner before considering releasing the 2019 first-round pick, the person said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
Porter has not played this season and only joined the team last week after dealing with personal issues, including a legal issue from November. The 20-year-old was in formal attire and on the bench Friday night when the Cavs beat the New York Knicks.
But after the game, Porter reportedly got angry when he learned the Cavs had moved his record for newly acquired forward Taurean Prince, who came into the four-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the week. .
According to reports, Porter had a heated confrontation with General Manager Koby Altman.
Following Monday’s practice, in which the Cavs welcomed center Jarrett Allen and Prince to the ground for the first time, coach JB Bickerstaff said he was disappointed things didn’t work out with Porter.
“We all want to see Kevin succeed and I always feel the same way, so whatever happens in the future for him, I hope nothing but the best for him,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s part of our responsibility as coaches to give everyone our maximum and try to get the best out of every situation and I can say we’ve done that.
The Cavs have always been intrigued by Porter’s ability, but his problems on the floor slowed down his development and made him a distraction.
In November, he was involved in a single car crash, and police found a loaded handgun and marijuana in his car. Porter maintained that he did not know the gun was there. The charges were dismissed.
The team worked with Porter to try to pull themselves together. He appeared to be making progress and returned to the Cavs last week for practice only to have Friday’s blast that the team saw as a breaking point.
Cleveland drafted Porter with the No.30 overall pick in 2019, knowing he was having trouble in Southern California. As a rookie, he averaged 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 50 games.
The Cavs once saw him as part of their young nucleus along with Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and others. Now they’re just hoping Porter can start fresh somewhere else.
“We will continue to build together,” Bickerstaff said. “All we want is the best for him. No matter what that looks like, we want the best for Kevin.
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