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2019 Draft, Pick #30 - Kevin Porter Jr., USC

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The Cavs made a big mistake then. There are hundreds of guys better or as good as him, there was no reason to take him.

Well, he doesn't necessarily have to be the best scorer in the class to be a useful player. He could reinvent himself into more of a versatile all-around guy. I think he'll have to, because he's not a Sexton/Garland type who can take over a game with his scoring ability alone. Hopefully he understands that, and the coaches understand that, and we can get some decent return on the 5M we spent to get him.
 
We are talking about the 30th pick in the draft guys. Lets don't get carried away.
 
What happens if we do? We don't make the playoffs lol

More like we'll be unnecessarily disappointed. KPJ has really nice physical tools and a few offensive skills that make him promising--above and beyond what his uninspiring college production do. But we shouldn't forget that lots of 19 and 20-year olds come into the league with that kind of profile and end up doing little. (Or we could fully emotionally invest in his success and enjoy the roller coaster ride :chuckle:)
 
More like we'll be unnecessarily disappointed. KPJ has really nice physical tools and a few offensive skills that make him promising--above and beyond what his uninspiring college production do. But we shouldn't forget that lots of 19 and 20-year olds come into the league with that kind of profile and end up doing little. (Or we could fully emotionally invest in his success and enjoy the roller coaster ride :chuckle:)

So far I like the Cavs scouting of late. Since Cedi I think they have made good moves in that regard. I even like Zizic more than most I think.

Porter Jr has better defensive upside than people are realizing I think, and I just see a lot of potential in his tools.

I tend to think these guys that have attitude issues are very sensitive people who have been hurt and are acting out. If Beilein is who I think he is, Porter is going to get the attention and support he needs to hit his ceiling.
 
We have our first team in a very long time to negotiate with their first-round pick on the Rookie Scale: Kevin Porter Jr. will only receive 80% of the Rookie Scale in Year 1 before it rises to 120% in Years 2 through 4. Very, very rare to see that, but helps the Cavs on the tax.
— Jeff Siegel (@jgsiegel) July 9, 2019

Don't know if anyone caught this but its a nice move to help the cavs this year.
 
I am big time skeptical, I just feel to play his style in the NBA you have to be an elite player or you end up being an inefficient chucker
 
We have our first team in a very long time to negotiate with their first-round pick on the Rookie Scale: Kevin Porter Jr. will only receive 80% of the Rookie Scale in Year 1 before it rises to 120% in Years 2 through 4. Very, very rare to see that, but helps the Cavs on the tax.
— Jeff Siegel (@jgsiegel) July 9, 2019

Don't know if anyone caught this but its a nice move to help the cavs this year.
Already been discussed significantly.
 
So, I think this is part of the reason Kevin Porter Jr. had personality flags.

Look at him in this photo while the rest of the rookies celebrate.


Body language is a real thing. Perhaps he has or has not received unfair judgment as a result.
 
We have our first team in a very long time to negotiate with their first-round pick on the Rookie Scale: Kevin Porter Jr. will only receive 80% of the Rookie Scale in Year 1 before it rises to 120% in Years 2 through 4. Very, very rare to see that, but helps the Cavs on the tax.
— Jeff Siegel (@jgsiegel) July 9, 2019

Don't know if anyone caught this but its a nice move to help the cavs this year.

I suspect it had a little to do with why the Cavs traded to the end of the first round to get him.

For the Cavs, they get the player they wanted, at a cost-controlled price for four years, and with said player helping them to avoid the tax this season.

For KPJ, he gets at least two guaranteed years, instead of falling out of the first round entirely. He also gets to play with a coaching staff that has a track record (at least in other contexts) of developing young players.

It's a win-win. Hopefully KPJ will make it a big win-win with his play. (And if he doesn't ... well, a #30 overall pick shouldn't be expected to be a load-bearing member of your team. If he becomes one, then great.)
 
I tend to think these guys that have attitude issues are very sensitive people who have been hurt and are acting out. If Beilein is who I think he is, Porter is going to get the attention and support he needs to hit his ceiling.

Some guys have attitude issues because they're just douchebags, and some may just be very sensitive people who are acting out. Either way, I don't think the NBA lifestyle/schedule, etc. is conducive to emotionally babysitting guys. You need to have your big boy pants on before you get there or it is very likely to get worse rather than better. Normal maturation...sure. But "turn around this person's life path" is a much taller order for an NBA coach. If he's truly a very sensitive person who is just acting out, I think he's likely to remain that same very sensitive person prone to acting out.

That being said, we don't really have many details about KPJ's personal problems/issues, and perhaps they've been exaggerated or misrepresented. I'm kind of hanging my hat more on that than I am on Beilein being some kind of Svengali for emotionally disturbed young men.
 
So, I think this is part of the reason Kevin Porter Jr. had personality flags.

Look at him in this photo while the rest of the rookies celebrate.


Body language is a real thing. Perhaps he has or has not received unfair judgment as a result.
The last thing I want to do is start judging these guys based on almost nothing...if you look at the picture there are guys above with similar body language.
 
Some guys have attitude issues because they're just douchebags, and some may just be very sensitive people who are acting out. Either way, I don't think the NBA lifestyle/schedule, etc. is conducive to emotionally babysitting guys. You need to have your big boy pants on before you get there or it is very likely to get worse rather than better. Normal maturation...sure. But "turn around this person's life path" is a much taller order for an NBA coach. If he's truly a very sensitive person who is just acting out, I think he's likely to remain that same very sensitive person prone to acting out.

That being said, we don't really have many details about KPJ's personal problems/issues, and perhaps they've been exaggerated or misrepresented. I'm kind of hanging my hat more on that than I am on Beilein being some kind of Svengali for emotionally disturbed young men.

Yep
 
Some guys have attitude issues because they're just douchebags, and some may just be very sensitive people who are acting out. Either way, I don't think the NBA lifestyle/schedule, etc. is conducive to emotionally babysitting guys. You need to have your big boy pants on before you get there or it is very likely to get worse rather than better. Normal maturation...sure. But "turn around this person's life path" is a much taller order for an NBA coach. If he's truly a very sensitive person who is just acting out, I think he's likely to remain that same very sensitive person prone to acting out.

That being said, we don't really have many details about KPJ's personal problems/issues, and perhaps they've been exaggerated or misrepresented. I'm kind of hanging my hat more on that than I am on Beilein being some kind of Svengali for emotionally disturbed young men.

Douche bags are usually protecting themselves by going on offense. I don't know though. Jamal Crawford said Porter Jr wasn't fitting in at school. Sounded more like a fish out of water than a bad kid.

These rookies seem to be hard working and so far seem to like each other. That is good. The locker room was reported to be good last year. Channing is gone and that could hurt.

Also, yeah Beilein is no panacea, but I'd rather have him working on Porter Jr than Lue who seemed to have 0 interest in rookies. Environment matters for these young guys.
 
KPJ just looks like a guy who is self conscious and reserved. Some people just take longer to relax and feel comfortable in a new environment and with new people and this can actually take a very long time. That can happen when you've been hurt before and/or have mental health issues.

In terms of his game. Does anyone here actually think he is going to start jacking shit contested shots JC style? And if he does, won't be coached otherwise. Player roles are going to be so much better defined with Beilein, I believe. And from there he can expand his game with guidance.
 

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