Kevin Porter Jr. scored an average of 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 50 games last season.
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cavaliers went to extremes to beat Kevin Porter Jr. to help. He pushed them too far.
Cleveland has decided to continue with the upset and talented player, a person familiar with his position on the team told The Associated Press on Monday.
The Cavs will look around Porter to see if they can find a trading partner before considering releasing the draft pick for the first round in 2019, the person said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
Porter has yet to play this season and only rejoined the team last week after tending to personal problems, which include a legal issue from November. The 20-year-old was in streetwear and on the bench Friday night when the Cavs beat the New York Knicks.
After the game, Porter apparently got angry when he learned the Cavs had moved his locker room to newly acquired forward Taurean Prince, who came into the four-team deal with the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week.
According to reports, Porter had a heated confrontation with general manager Koby Altman.
Following Monday’s practice, during which the Cavs welcomed center Jarrett Allen and Prince to the floor for the first time, coach JB Bickerstaff said he was disappointed things were not working out with Porter.
“We all want to see Kevin succeed and I still feel that way, so whatever happens to him in the future, I hope for nothing but the best for him,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s part of our responsibility as coaches to try to do everything for everyone and to make the best of every situation, and I can say that we did it.”
The Cavs have always been interested in Porter’s ability, but his problems off the floor slowed his development and distracted him.
In November, he was involved in a single accident, and police found a loaded gun and marijuana in his car. Porter claims he did not know the gun was there. Charges were dismissed.
The team, along with Porter, tried to get his life together. It looked like he was making progress and returned to the Cavs last week for practice just to get the outburst on Friday that the team considered a break point.
Cleveland put Porter together with the overall no. 30 in 2019, knowing he had problems 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 a their young core with Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and others. Now they just hope Porter can start fresh elsewhere.
“We will continue to build,” Bickerstaff said. ‘All we want is the best for him. No matter what it looks like, we want the best for Kevin. ‘