Tag: Craig Porter Jr.

Rumor: Cavaliers to sign two-way rookie Craig Porter Jr. to 4-year contract

The Cavaliers have reportedly agreed to convert two-way rookie Craig Porter Jr. to a standard contract.

After emerging as a key contributor, the Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly agreed to convert two-way rookie Craig Porter Jr. to a standard contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Porter, who went undrafted last year out of Wichita State, is averaging 6.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds on 50.9% shooting from the field in 32 games with the Cavaliers. He ranks sixth among first-year players in assists per game.

The 23-year-old filled in extensively early in the season when the Cavaliers dealt with several injuries. He produced his best stretch in November, averaging 14.4 points, 4.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds on 59.6% shooting from the field in a five-game span.

Porter has drawn praise throughout the year for his maturity and ability to complement his teammates on the court. He has earned the trust of the coaching staff and his teammates for the way he can impact games off the bench.

He was viewed as a strong candidate to be upgraded to a standard contract after a productive first half of the season. The team had an open roster spot after agreeing to a buyout with Ricky Rubio last month, and opted to give it to Porter.

Porter said it was a personal goal to earn a standard contract.

“I would love that, obviously,” Porter told Rookie Wire last month. “I mean, it’s just whatever the organization feels is best for me but, obviously, I would love to be on that roster spot, so I could show them and keep doing what I’m doing.”

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Craig Porter Jr. on contributing with Cavaliers: ‘I wanted to get to this level so bad’

Rookie Wire recently caught up with Porter to discuss the Cavaliers, making a significant impact as a rookie, his contract and more.

Craig Porter Jr. didn’t expect to play much with the Cleveland Cavaliers but injuries and other factors created an opportunity, and the rookie has produced when called upon this season.

His journey to the Cavaliers started at the collegiate level at Vincennes University, a junior college in Vincennes, Indiana. He helped lead the program to a national championship in 2019 and a 62-7 record over two seasons.

Porter opted to transfer and played his last three years at Wichita State.

He was named to the All-AAC third team last season as a fifth-year senior after averaging 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. He became the first Shocker to lead the team in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in a single season.

The 23-year-old joined the Cavaliers for the NBA Summer League after going undrafted and then signed a two-way contract with the team on July 7. He posted averages of 12 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in six appearances.

Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been impressed by him.

He is extremely mature. He is another guy whose story has led him to see a lot of different things, and he had to grow up through it. He earned his way here, going undrafted, (being at a) junior college and playing four years of college. He is mature and has seen a lot. I have so much trust in him because he doesn’t have the typical (inconsistent play) that young 1-and-dones or rookie guys have. He always stays steady and always stays the course.

Porter expected to spend most of the season in the G League with the Cleveland Charge. However, the Cavaliers have dealt with injuries to key players Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert, which thrust him into a larger role.

The situation has been so dire that Porter hasn’t played with the Charge.

He is averaging 7.1 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds on 51.2% shooting from the field in 29 games with the Cavaliers. He produced his best stretch of the season in November, averaging 14.4 points, 4.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds in a five-game span.

Porter filled in with the team down Mitchell and Isaac Okoro. He had several clutch plays and performed at a high level, including a 12-point, nine-assist effort in a win against Philadelphia on Nov. 21.

“He is steady, and that is unheard of for an undrafted two-way guard,” Mitchell said. “There are nights when he comes in at the end of the game, and when he comes in and has 12 and (nine) against the Sixers on the TNT game on the road. You never know if he is having a good or bad day; he is just steady. That speaks a lot to his maturity level and character as a person. It is awesome to see.”

Porter has made a strong case to be upgraded to a standard contract. The team has 14 players signed to standard contracts, including one 10-day contract, which is the league roster minimum, so an additional move will likely be made in the future.

Rookie Wire recently caught up with Porter to discuss playing with the Cavaliers, making a significant impact as a rookie, his contract situation and more.

Rumor: Cavs’ Craig Porter Jr. viewed as candidate to sign standard contract

After a productive start to the season, Craig Porter Jr. is reportedly viewed as a candidate to sign a standard contract with the Cavaliers.

After a productive start to the season, rookie Craig Porter Jr. is reportedly a candidate to sign a standard contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Porter, who went undrafted out of Wichita State, signed a two-way contract with the Cavaliers over the summer. He has seen sporadic minutes this season but has been thrust into a larger role with the team down Darius Garland (jaw fracture).

The 23-year-old has started the last three games with the Cavaliers and nearly produced a triple-double on Saturday, recording 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a win over Chicago. He has 25 assists and three turnovers in those three games.

The excerpt from HoopsHype:

With injuries to Darius Garland and the Cavaliers exploring the trade market for the absent Ricky Rubio, Porter Jr. is viewed as a potential conversion candidate for a standard contract.

Porter is averaging 7.5 points, 3.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds on 40% shooting from 3-point range in 19 appearances with the Cavaliers. He is one of four rookies averaging at least seven points, three assists and two rebounds this season.

The strong start this season has Porter on the verge of signing a standard contract with the Cavaliers. The team may opt to wait until Porter has exhausted all of his available service time as part of his two-way contract to sign him.

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Chet Holmgren, Jaime Jaquez Jr. named NBA Rookies of the Month

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren and Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. have been named NBA Western and Eastern Rookies of the Month.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren and Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. have been named NBA Western and Eastern Conference rookies of the month, the league announced.

Holmgren averaged 17.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks in 18 games in October and November on 41% shooting from 3-point range. He is the only first-year player with multiple 30-point games this season, including a Thunder rookie record 36 points on Nov. 18.

Jaquez became the fifth player in franchise history to win after averaging 12 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals on 39% shooting from 3-point range in 19 games. He has scored in double figures in seven straight games, and in 12 of his last 13 games overall.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins, Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama were also nominated for the award in the West. East nominees were Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. and Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson.

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Rookie Power Rankings: Chet Holmgren tops Wemby; Jaime Jaquez Jr. rises up

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2023-24 season.

As the top players around the NBA settle into another season on the court, the rookie class continues to put up some impressive performances seemingly on a nightly basis.

The group, of course, has been headlined by No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama and former second pick Chet Holmgren. The two players have distanced themselves some from the rest of the rookies this year after dazzling starts with their respective teams.

Elsewhere, other players have earned significant minutes and put up some productive outings in their roles, either in the starting lineup or off the bench. The class should continue to show out on the court with the season in full swing.

To make sense of it all, we looked at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but to illustrate the best players week to week.

Cavaliers’ Craig Porter Jr. showed out in overtime win over 76ers

Craig Porter Jr. neared a double-double and continued his best stretch of the season to help the Cavaliers defeat the 76ers.

Craig Porter Jr. neared a double-double and continued his best stretch of the season on Tuesday to help the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Philadelphia 76ers.

Porter produced 12 points, nine assists, three rebounds and one blocked shot in the 122-119 win on the road in overtime. He went 5-of-9 from the field in 27 minutes off of the bench and finished a game-high plus-21 while on the court.

The undrafted guard out of Wichita State recorded eight points in the first half and had a key layup in the final minute of overtime to give the Cavaliers the lead. The two teams traded leads again before the Cavaliers took over for good.

Porter, who is signed to a two-way contract, was thrust into a larger role this week with Donovan Mitchell sidelined with a hamstring injury. He has scored in double figures in each of the last three games, including a career-high 21 points on Sunday in a win over Denver.

The early minutes have helped Porter.

“Each game, the confidence just builds and builds,” Porter said after defeating the Nuggets. “The coaches believe in me, and the guys are pushing me to be better, so I’m ready for it. It is what I want to go out there and show.”

Prior to his recent three-game run, Porter played more than 10 minutes in a game just twice in six appearances. He has been mostly out of the rotation during those games, but has proved himself of late and is showing that he can contribute when called upon.

The 23-year-old is still expected to spend time in the G League this season once the team can get Mitchell back in the lineup. He is staying ready to play in the meantime.

“With me being on the two-way, I figured I’d be in the G League working my way into it and eventually get a chance and get some small minutes,” Porter said. “Obviously, with injuries and stuff, you’ve got to be ready. That is one of the things they told me earlier in the year after training camp. I took that to heart, and it has been working for me.”

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5 undrafted rookies on two-way deals who looked like steals during NBA Summer League

How did Adama Sanogo and Oscar Tshiebwe go undrafted?

Even though it might be too early to make any sweeping judgments about strong performances at NBA Summer League, some players have stood out.

As the NBA 2K24 Summer League tournament nears an end, we took a look at a few of the standout undrafted free agents who have already exceeded expectations set by their two-way contracts signed after the 2023 NBA Draft.

While you may be familiar with some names (e.g. Adama Sanogo and Oscar Oscar Tshiebwe) already, others may feel less familiar.

This story used AI-Powered statistics provided by the Stats Perform database.

Stay tuned for our third edition of this series, which will look at players who may have earned a two-way contract (e.g. Jelly Walker, KJ Williams, Nathan Mensah and more) based on their performances in Las Vegas as well.

RELATED: 5 second-round picks in 2023 who already look like draft steals during NBA Summer League

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Catching up with the Boston Celtics’ 2023 NBA draft workouts

Boston is likely looking for players who’d be able to help right away, or a player with some upside to stash abroad or as a two way player.

As the 2023 NBA draft draws ever closer, the Boston Celtics have kept themselves very busy working out prospective targets for the top of the 2023 draft’s second round, with a pick owed them from either the Portland Trail Blazers (35th overall) or the Houston Rockets (33rd overall), pending the outcome of complicated protections which will be determined the night of the draft lottery.

The Celtics are looking for players who would be able to help a little depth-wise right away, or perhaps a player with some upside to stash abroad or as a two way player with the extra slot having been added in the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.

Let’s take a look at the prospects we know the team has worked out (thanks to Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor) that we have not already covered on the Celtics Wire (see our previous articles on wing Landers Nolley II, big man Oscar Tshiebwe, and center Isaiah Miranda).