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

[David.]

I'm sure that they came to him and his agent with something that made up for it or exceeded the value of the money he left in the table. Remember LeBron's crew got jobs and access to alot of Gilbert's cars when he was here the first time. I wouldn't be surprise if Gilbert uses foreclosed homes and repo cars from Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage where he or his family gets a real good deal on new homes and/or cars. I think they would be able to do endorsement deals thru the casino to make up money too.

Legality check @The Human Q-Tip

 

[I'mWithDan]

I'm sure that they came to him and his agent with something that made up for it or exceeded the value of the money he left in the table. Remember LeBron's crew got jobs and access to alot of Gilbert's cars when he was here the first time. I wouldn't be surprise if Gilbert uses foreclosed homes and repo cars from Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage where he or his family gets a real good deal on new homes and/or cars. I think they would be able to do endorsement deals thru the casino to make up money too.

It's also possible that the Cavs were just in his corner throughout the process... and he is thankful the team really wanted him.

It sounds like the FO stayed in regular contact, told him they really wanted him, and then backed up that talk by spending cash and trading up, to make him a first rounder. That guaranteed his contract, fulfilled his "1st round" dream, paired him with a great developmental coach, gave him a path to playing time on a younger team, etc. etc.

It could have been wink, wink.....there are also cases where there is genuine trust on each side and player / agent teams reward front offices for being transparent and constantly keeping them in the loop.

 

[Cavatt]

In his recent 1 on 1 interview he said he was going to take the toughest defensive assignment. He said he can guard 1-4. That is probably not in the cards right now, but if he really believes that and wants to play defense like that, I am really encouraged.

In his scouting videos I was surprised that most of them mentioned that he is a good defender and he does try on that end. He gets lost off ball as many young guys do, but the effort is there.

If Garland is good, this is going to be a good draft, but if Porter Jr is good or great, then it is going to make this draft a major win for us.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

In his recent 1 on 1 interview he said he was going to take the toughest defensive assignment. He said he can guard 1-4. That is probably not in the cards right now, but if he really believes that and wants to play defense like that, I am really encouraged.

In his scouting videos I was surprised that most of them mentioned that he is a good defender and he does try on that end. He gets lost off ball as many young guys do, but the effort is there.

If Garland is good, this is going to be a good draft, but if Porter Jr is good or great, then it is going to make this draft a major win for us.

Most importantly--if Porter plays defense, that more than anything is what will get him on and keep him on the court.

In todays league, he can absolutely put in minutes at the 3. The 4 would be extreme, but 1-3 for sure.

 

[Cavatt]

Most importantly--if Porter plays defense, that more than anything is what will get him on and keep him on the court.

In todays league, he can absolutely put in minutes at the 3. The 4 would be extreme, but 1-3 for sure.

For sure about the defense part. It will keep him around while he learns to play nice with others.

I can't wait to see him. He has a really good dribble. I think NBA spacing helps him get where he wants. He is a strong guy, I hope he focuses on getting to the rack.

 

[I'mWithDan]

In his recent 1 on 1 interview he said he was going to take the toughest defensive assignment. He said he can guard 1-4. That is probably not in the cards right now, but if he really believes that and wants to play defense like that, I am really encouraged.

I'm certain that he laughed in that interview because Beilein was in earshot of him saying he can guard 1-4..... and that John likely made some comment in the background that he would be reminding him about this interview at some point.

 

[Cavatt]

I'm certain that he laughed in that interview because Beilein was in earshot of him saying he can guard 1-4..... and that John likely made some comment in the background that he would be reminding him about this interview at some point.

He's pretty young, turned 19 in May. 1-3 is a big enough ask right now.

 

[Green Lantern]

It will take time but if the kid has a mentality to play defense first, I find thats a good attitude to have, defense is a attitude to stop the player you're guarding.
Now if the talent to do it is there ,it will surface if he is disciplined and determined enough to do it.

 

[RustShack]

Could be like Harden in OKC. Not necessarily comparing them as players, but just the situation. Wouldn’t be surprised if he comes off the bench but ends up playing starter minutes and is on the court at the end of the game.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I'm sure that they came to him and his agent with something that made up for it or exceeded the value of the money he left in the table. Remember LeBron's crew got jobs and access to alot of Gilbert's cars when he was here the first time. I wouldn't be surprise if Gilbert uses foreclosed homes and repo cars from Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage where he or his family gets a real good deal on new homes and/or cars. I think they would be able to do endorsement deals thru the casino to make up money too.

The league very carefully watches for any extra-contractual payments to a player from anyone affiliated with ownership. An obvious example of that would be Dan paying a player extra to endorse the casino or Quicken loans. Strictly forbidden. I posted on this general topic awhile back with links, so I'm not going to dredge it up again. But just consider how easily the salary cap could be evaded if owners would be permitted to do that.

LeBron's crew getting hired by the team is different because that money didn't go to LBJ himself, or his spouse.

@David.

 

[inliner311]

The league very carefully watches for any extra-contractual payments to a player from anyone affiliated with ownership. An obvious example of that would be Dan paying a player extra endorse to endorse the casino or Quicken loans. Strictly forbidden. I posted on this general topic awhile back with links, so I'm not goign to dredge it up again. But just consider how easily the salary cap could be evaded if owners would be permitted to do that.

LeBron's crew getting hired by the team is different because that money didn't go to LBJ himself, or his spouse.

@David.

I feel like this was the case in the past. Now though, we heard that all the pitches to the biggest free agents have other stuff attached to it. All the roc nation stuff with the Nets and Kyrie/Durant. Drake offering some sort of deal with his record label to Kawhi if he stayed with the Raptors.

Maybe it's like tampering. If it's happening behind close doors, Silver turns a blind eye to it. If they are like Magic and going out to the media with it, then Silver has to do something about it.

Like the Casino giving one of the players an endorsement deal might be too far. A player getting the opportunity to buy his mom a foreclosed house in a real good neighborhood for pennies on the dollar, I could see happening. Kawhi got offered a free apartment to stay in Toronto by someone and ESPN was blasting that all over the place.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I feel like this was the case in the past. Now though, we heard that all the pitches to the biggest free agents have other stuff attached to it. All the roc nation stuff with the Nets and Kyrie/Durant. Drake offering some sort of deal with his record label to Kawhi if he stayed with the Raptors.

Drake doesn't own any shares in the Raptors, so it's legal, although (see below)

Like the Casino giving one of the players an endorsement deal might be too far. A player getting the opportunity to buy his mom a foreclosed house in a real good neighborhood for pennies on the dollar, I could see happening. Kawhi got offered a free apartment to stay in Toronto by someone and ESPN was blasting that all over the place.

It all depends on whether or not the money is ultimately traceable to ownership. If some random (very wealthy) fan or potential sponsor offers Kawhi extra to stay in Toronto, that's not illegal. Now, if Toronto ownership happens to pay that fan/sponsor...that's a problem.

There is a potential issue with someone like Drake. Let's say the Raptors "overpay" Drake for some service he provides, and Drake then in turn funnels money to someone like Kawhi for endorsement or deals or whatever. That I could see being a problem, and I'm not sure the current CBA addresses that.

 

[inliner311]

.

There is a potential issue with someone like Drake. Let's say the Raptors "overpay" Drake for some service he provides, and Drake then in turn funnels money to someone like Kawhi for endorsement or deals or whatever. That I could see being a problem, and I'm not sure the current CBA addresses that.

I bet there are enough loopholes to the CBA that this stuff goes on behind the scenes in wink wink deals. I also guess Silver will do nothing about it because it wouldn't benefit the NBA to shed more light to it. Unless someone writes a huge article about the dark money in the NBA and brings a scandal to the NBA's front door, I think the owners and Silver are fine with it happening.

Teams seem fine with the gray areas of tampering and love finding loopholes with trades. My guess is they work with agents to find gray areas and loopholes to get players paid to help the team.

 

[red.]

 

[Lee]

Why does the guy "defending" him have to be a white guy in very ugly shorts?

Racism.