The Rockets are giving another shot to Kevin Porter Jr. at establishing himself in the�NBA. The Cavaliers traded him to the Houston Rockets for a future second-round pick. Porter Jr. and general manager Koby Altman had a�heated exchange�when the team assigned his locker to Taurean Prince.
The Rockets then assigned him to the Rio Grande Vipers, who played in the G-League Bubble. Porter Jr. was a standout player. He averaged 24 points, 7.3 assists, and 6.5 rebounds on 45% shooting. The Vipers’ offense had Porter Jr. create a lot off the dribble to get a shot for himself or his teammates. He ended as the leading scorer in the G-League.
The Cavaliers acquired Porter Jr. in the 2019 draft. He fell to the 30th because of concerns about his off-court behavior. In August, a woman accused him of punching her in the face. A few months later, he was charged with “improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, along with failure to control and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.”
Teams have never questioned his talent level. At the high school and collegiate level, he showed his ability as a natural scorer. He has all the tools and skills necessary to be an outstanding shot-maker at the NBA level.
The Rockets are in a position to get him significant minutes. They lack another shot creator next to John Wall and Victor Oladipo. Porter Jr. can help supplement those scoring droughts.
As one of the only young pieces on the Rockets’ roster at the moment, he figures to be a crucial part of their future if he can figure things out off the court.
