Cavs Mailbag: The Craig Porter Jr. Takeover

Spencer Davies answers Cleveland Cavaliers fans' questions before Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat at home.

Welcome to Cavs Mailbag! In this daily mailbag, Spencer Davies will respond to fans’ curiosities surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers throughout the duration of the 2023-24 season. In order to submit yours, simply send your questions on X to @SpinDavies or via email at spindavies22@gmail.com.

Riding a four-game winning streak in spite of constant setbacks, the Cavs have found a rhythm as a team in the late portion of November. 

With a five-game homestand on tap to close the month, starting with the Miami Heat tonight, Cleveland has an opportunity to scale the Eastern Conference standings and leave its slow start in the rearview mirror.

Let's get to your questions, which came flooding in all around the same subject:

When do they start erecting the Craig Porter Jr. statue? - @derek_dimit

It's always more enjoyable to write when fans are excited rather than incensed. Craig Porter Jr. is the feel-good story of the season so far. I think his humility and understanding of his position and role have allowed him to just go out there and play basketball. Be aware that ups and downs are a real thing though.

It helps to have five years of college experience under your belt, especially when you had to work your way from junior college to Division I and now to the NBA as an undrafted player. Porter's attitude is refreshing, and it's just as important to how he operates when he's in the game. He and his Cavs teammates have seen opponents underestimate his capabilities, which has ultimately helped Cleveland succeed.

Porter is incredibly self-aware, yet beaming with confidence, as he should be. The fact that he made two of the biggest plays of the game against an Eastern Conference favorite in its own building on national television speaks volumes of embracing the moment. 

What other two-way rookie drives into Joel Embiid's chest and finishes that play? Heck, how many other NBA players do that in that moment? Making a simple, yet crucial read on a bounce pass to Jarrett Allen for a hook shot gave them the lead too. 

Defensively, we need to be talking about his athleticism on the boards and how he sniffs out steals and blocks too. His impact on that end has been equally as valuable.

Everybody needs to enjoy this ride while the 23-year-old is hot. Injuries have opened up time for Porter to show what he can do and in big spots. When Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell are back in the fold, he probably won't see this much floor time. 

Also, eventually, teams are going to catch on and start including him in the scouting report. There will have to be an adjustment to that — more on that a couple questions down — but for the moment, he's been a critical piece of this four-game winning streak.

Oct 31, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter (9) dunks against the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Considering the last three games: When Ty Jerome returns, has Craig Porter Jr. earned enough rotation minutes to keep a spot or does J.B. revert to the original plan? - @HipsterTito

Even as early as a week ago, I was confident that Ty Jerome's return would send Porter back to a reserve role and in a G League capacity with the Cleveland Charge. I'm not so sure about that anymore because of the production and savvy the rookie has put on display in short order.

Jerome won't be booted from this rotation once he shakes that sprained right ankle. He will, however, have to work his way back to in-game shape. It'll be a gradual reincorporation to the lineup. 

Porter should have earned more run because of this stretch though. We'll see how J.B. Bickerstaff treats a crowded guard room. Again, don't forget about LeVert and Mitchell when healthy too. It can't be an easy job with all of those bodies!

Why doesn’t Porter shoot threes? Because he can get in the lane for a better shot or is he a poor outside shooter? Curious of his upside. - @rlkillion29

After the Nuggets' win, Porter told us the other day that a layup is the easiest shot in basketball and he's focused on getting the Cavs as many of those as possible. What happens when a team walls off the paint though?

Speaking with sources close to the team this summer, Cleveland is optimistic that Porter will be able to shoot the basketball from long distance. It'll just be about getting used to the length of the NBA three-point line and when to take his shots. Right now, defenders are up into Porter on the perimeter, giving him the opportunity to navigate around them and use screens to his advantage. 

If opponents start to sag off or drop further, Porter should take what they give him. It may be a work in progress, but he should knock a few down here or there. But until then, he doesn't need to change a thing about his attack-minded approach.