CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cavaliers had no choice.
Kevin Porter Jr. a 6-foot wing that teased four fans, teammates, coaches and managers with a promising vegetable season with mesmerizing flashes of star qualities on the track – is not going to reach its potential here in Cleveland. .
Head coach JB Bickerstaff, who voluntarily oversaw the development of Porter at the start of the 2019-20 season while Bickerstaff was still John Beilein’s head assistant, was unable to penetrate Porter throughout – although Bickerstaff is known as a good communicator, leader and culture builder.
General manager Koby Altman, who began promoting a bond with Porter during his erratic first-year season at USC, regularly texted the troubled young man and spent a lot of time on campus getting to know him, also unable to reach Porter. . At least not enough to pull him back after months of mistakes.
“The organization has done everything and more for him,” a league source told cleveland.com. “They went above and beyond. They gave him more chances than most franchises would have. ”
Now the Houston Rockets will try to save Porter from ruining his career – a hopeful start that quickly turned into too much free time during a pandemic-extended off-season, a series of poor court decisions and immaturity that followed him , first from Seattle to USC and then to University of Cleveland. Always one step forward and a few steps back.
For the Rockets, it’s a low-risk action with a high reward – a worthy gamble for an organization that recently donated James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets and has assistant coach John Lucas, who has a history of recovery projects. out of court to help issues. If that doesn’t work, the Rockets go ahead and give up nothing, given the heavily protected second-round draft picks the Cavs will likely never pass on.
For the Cavs, this is a major setback in their rebuilding.
Teammates regarded Porter as the most talented of the young core, the player with the best path to stardom. Members of the front office considered him untouchable when competing teams reached out in previous trade talks. Porter was supposed to be that one – the center of this rebuilding with the ability to change the track, the phenomenon they stole at the end of the first round.
Even after an off-season arrest, Porter was still in Cleveland’s long-term vision and chose to record his third-year option.
What could have been. Flash forward to Thursday. The Cavs agreed to a deal that was basically a paycheck. They have two options: Deal Porter for very little or giving up on him. They chose the least painful to get some wrap space under the luxury tax and an open grid spot destined for a rugby point to fill the void in the short term, with Matthew Dellavedova set for an concussion.
Make no mistake: no one here looks good.
Not Porter, who got several chances to show the organization what he learned from his mistakes, to prove he has the emotional maturity to handle anything that is an NBA player. The Cavs set goals for him and Porter did not always work at it because he felt contempt for the organization that kept him going for so long. They hoped he would answer or simply respond in a different, more mature way. They also hoped that Porter would make better choices when it came to those around him.
The Cavs sympathized with his chaotic past and the heavy burden he carried at such a young age, and moved his family to Cleveland so they could be cared for and safe. Despite the time, effort, resources and extra care, it did not work. How do you help someone who is not willing to help themselves? How much will you give next time before frustration builds up and exhaustion overwhelms?
Altman doesn’t look good either. He took a gamble almost two years ago, paid $ 5 million and gave up four second-round picks for Porter’s draft rights. The Cavs worked tirelessly to recoup the assets. They are not able to throw them away – even if it is only second round. The Cavs knew all the reasons behind Porter’s draft night had dropped. They did their homework, chatted with numerous people, and met in person with Porter. Despite some other teams taking him off the board, the Cavs were delighted with his upside, a Harden-like attacking package and teasing two-way traits.
Their thought process: what does it look like for this child when we offer structures he has never had, a consistent routine he needs, proper eating habits, a better sleep schedule, workouts, professional coaching, a few veterans around him the show away and Bickerstaff as a trusted mentor?
It was not perfect in year one. There were some slipups. But his rookie season makes it seem like a wise bet.
Porter averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He was one of the highlights during a sometimes miserable 19-win season that ended abruptly in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He ran Harden in a captivating showdown last December. Porter fueled a February return against the Miami Heat and scored a career-high 30 points.
Bickerstaff often referred to Porter as one of the best passers-by on the rankings, and there was excitement about the possibility of using the 20-year-old swingman as a playwright. Porter developed a close relationship with assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who spoke about her love for the youngster.
Then it all changed during a long season. Porter drifted away.
In August 2020, he is accused of hitting a woman in the face. In October, Porter posted a black square on his Instagram with the message “Do you ever want to see the end of your time?” The incident prompted Cavs officials and teammates to reach out to him and make sure he was ready and offered to help. He was involved in a car accident in November – arrested and charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, failure to control the vehicle and criminal possession of marijuana. All of these charges were dismissed.
Porter’s days with the Cavs reached a breaking point last Friday when he became upset after learning that his space in the locker room had been given to the newly acquired forward Taurean Prince. Porter had returned the day before to train with the Cavs – part of an unknown reintegration plan.
That night, Altman came in and tried to discuss the matter. But Porter does not want to calm down. Food was thrown. Tensions rose. The verbal exchange between Porter and Altman was “uncomfortable for everyone in there,” a source said.
Friday was the culmination of too many mistakes, including contempt for teammates and staff members.
After the confrontation, Porter was told to clean his closet and remove it from the building, banished from the team while the front office determined the next steps.
“We all want to see Kevin succeed, and I still feel that way,” Bickerstaff said Monday. ‘Whatever happens to him in the future, I hope for nothing but the best for him. And it is part of our responsibility as coaches to give everything to everyone and try to make the best of every situation. I can say that we did it. ‘
Bickerstaff’s message focused on togetherness, collective procurement, accountability and discipline. The Cavs are trying to build a culture that is not yet well established. A surprising start to 7-7 got them moving in the right direction, currently a month into this odd season in the playoff picture of the Eastern Conference. They could not risk it for one player, no matter how talented. They have gambled on him enough already.
The Cavs did not want that. They stood by Porter after his arrest. They repeatedly referred to him as a good kid at his core. It was not an impulsive decision.
Maybe there were some things they could do better. The same goes for Porter. Bickerstaff and Altman will surely reflect on that. They will take the mirror test. But moving on was the best and only option for everyone involved. Porter was the only man who could not meet the organizational standard. What would it say about the core values if he were to continue to receive preferential treatment and endless opportunities? It was a message. Words in action.
With Porter gone, the focus shifts to the rest of Cleveland’s young core. Collin Sexton displaces Porter as the cornerstone. Poor Sexton was one of the best players at the Eastern Conference over a breathtaking six-month period that runs until December last year. His recent play helps soften the sting.
The arrival of Jarrett Allen is a good boost, giving the Cavs a 22-year-old center of the future that becomes the defensive pivot. Dylan Windler approached a turn and was a threat to Porter’s playing time. Taurean Prince, the cast of the Allen agreement, is still only 26 years old. Isaac Okoro has impressed the Cavs since he was drafted fifth overall in November. Darius Garland showed exciting growth before getting a sprained right shoulder. Do not let the uncooled Larry Nance jr. Do not forget. If you all at least help.
The Cavs preferred culture over talent. They deserve credit. But that does not change the end result: Cleveland has lost one of its most valuable – and most important – building blocks.
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