- Richard Jefferson says he’s only mean to former Cavs teammates after destroying Tristan Thompson on ESPN
- Donovan Mitchell says he should’ve made All-NBA First Team: ‘I don’t know what the standard is’
- Brian Windhorst thinks Cavs and Suns will be targeting a lot of the same free agents next couple years
- Report: Cavs to host Magic for preseason game in October
- Donovan Mitchell unfollows Ja Morant on Twitter amid Grizzlies guard’s troubling antics
- Cavs guard Ricky Rubio considering return to Europe in future
- Channing Frye recalls similar play to Derrick White’s game-winner vs. Miami Heat that ‘hurt’
- Former Cavs big man publicly rips United Airlines for mishandling his luggage again
- Report: Cavs intend to bring back Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens
- Former Cavs player believes Gabe Vincent’s absence could tip Boston Celtics-Miami Heat series
Report: Cavs Paid League Record for No. 30 Pick Kevin Porter Jr.
- Updated: June 21, 2019
The last of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ three first-round picks on Thursday night was used on University of Southern California guard Kevin Porter Jr.
However, in making a deal on draft night for that selection, the Cavaliers paid a league-record price.
As @TimBontemps mentioned, Cleveland paid $5M (a league record) for pick no. 30. They also sent out 4 2's. Will look through the results to confirm the winner. https://t.co/ugXDIWzVvN
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 21, 2019
Porter has the talent to make an impact in the NBA, though he played in only 21 contests in his one season with the Trojans. In those contests, he averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from beyond the arc.
There had been some thought which indicated that Porter could be a lottery pick, but off-the-court concerns and injuries at USC might have been an issue. He was suspended two games for undisclosed reasons and also missed nine games because of a quad contusion, missing a total of 12 games.
Those absences led to inconsistent play, but Porter will bring athleticism and a solid shooting touch to the Cavaliers. Having just turned 19 last month, he’ll be able to see more time on the court with the rebuilding Cavs than if a playoff-worthy team had selected him.
Any draft pick is a risk, but the potential reward for the Cavaliers could be huge if Porter is able to stay on the straight and narrow and live up to his potential. Even though the Cavs set a record with their purchase, it could end up being a wise investment.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login