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

[The Human Q-Tip]

The longer this goes on, the harder to assimilate KPJ with what the Cavs are doing.

Along those same lines, the article posted above had this bit about when he got into trouble at USC:

"Back in Seattle, Oliver noticed that Porter was struggling at USC. Their text chains got longer. Oliver says Porter, who did not respond to interview requests, expressed concern about how he wasn’t fitting in with the team the way he envisioned.

So with Sexland now looking much better, Okoro taking some minutes at the 2, and Cedi playing better, how is all that going to mesh with how KPJ envisions his role on the team? So your point about assimilation may be a factor from KPJ's perspective as well as the Cavs.

 

[Muffinalt]

S34 has been down for literally only a few days lol, but we here.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

But many people with drug and addiction issues use alcohol and drugs to self medicate mental illness. Of course I would never talk like that to or about any of my clients, but KPJ isn’t one of my clients and I’m on a anonymous Internet forum. And again not saying anything about the kids character was just pointing out what I saw. In the last couple months he’s totaled a car, punched a woman in the face and had an altercation with security guards where he had to be held back by police.he also had some issues in college that resulted in punishments.
He might be facing jail time if it wasn’t for his mother bailing him out and the other charges were dropped likely also to his “star” status
Again I hope the best for the kid but all the signs I’m seeing show that something is not right with him. Don’t forget he also had that bizarre suicidal Instagram post not that long ago. I don’t think he’s a drug addict so my go to explanation to this kind of irrational behavior is possibly mental illness.

You are free to disagree! Just stating my opinion, and as for my credentials I have masters from Leiden university in the Netherlands (my mother is from Painsville OH but I moved to Europe at a young age)

Whether something is "not right" with him, or what it is, is pretty massive speculation at this point. Could be drugs, could be mental issues, or it could be that's just who he is. Or maybe some combination of all that. And his background likely played a major role in what kind of 20 year old man he is today. But then, I personally feel a lot more sympathy for the 4 year old little boy who lost his dad than I do for the 20 year old man he is today. At some point -- and 20 is definitely there -- you are responsible for who you are and what you do, regardless of how/why you got there.

Bottom line is that why he behaves the way he does is much less important from a basketball perspective than the simple fact of the behavior itself. From a basketball perspective, what I care about is that he's engaged in a pattern of conduct that is making him unable to contribute. His team is progressing and developing without him, guys are finding their roles, and he isn't a part of any of that. We also know that the Cavs don't even want him practicing with the rest of the team. Whether that's because he'd be a problem in the locker room, or because he isn't ready mentally/emotionally, or because he's got disciplinary issues...who the fuck knows? Point is, he's not practicing with this teammates, and why the Cavs decided that, or perhaps why KPJ himself decided that, doesn't change the bottom line. And that bottom line isn't a good sign for him being a reliable piece of the puzzle moving forward.

 

[weepinwillow]

I don't know the answers in terms of Kevin's mental health/state/upbringing, as a fan I want KP out there because he's a good basketball player who's skill set is intriguing and the team needs more perimeter scoring. I was higher on a KPjr/Okoro combo than I was on the Sexland combo going into this season.
However, if Porter is a legitimate problem in the locker-room (which I have yet to see reported and indications last year were the opposite, but they seem to be treating him like he is) then the Cavs may have to move on somewhat quickly. I hate that kind of thinking, though.. that's the kind of BS that sees you trade Ron Harper for Danny Ferry.

* edit: noted that I'm not actually saying anything in this post, which goes back to my original statement: I don't know the answers!!!

 

[buzzdog]

Does anyone here have any actual knowledge regarding what kind of relationship Porter has with some of the veteran players on the team like KLove? Are any of these guys close, with a mentoring type of relationship? Or do they all just split up and go their separate ways once practice ends?

Seems like it would be helpful if Porter had a connection with any player(s) on the team, somebody he related to, could talk things out with. But damned if I know how these guys interact or don't interact. For all I know they just punch the clock and all go there separate ways as soon as they're done with a practice or a game.

 

[Cavatt]

Does anyone here have any actual knowledge regarding what kind of relationship Porter has with some of the veteran players on the team like KLove? Are any of these guys close, with a mentoring type of relationship? Or do they all just split up and go their separate ways once practice ends?

Seems like it would be helpful if Porter had a connection with any player(s) on the team, somebody he related to, could talk things out with. But damned if I know how these guys interact or don't interact. For all I know they just punch the clock and all go there separate ways as soon as they're done with a practice or a game.

He worked out with Drummond for a week over the summer. That's all I got

 

[BigZ94]

He worked out with Drummond for a week over the summer. That's all I got

Think he was working out with Randle as well from some vids I saw, considering how Randles looking not a bad workout partner!

 

[Pioneer10]

Whether something is "not right" with him, or what it is, is pretty massive speculation at this point. Could be drugs, could be mental issues, or it could be that's just who he is. Or maybe some combination of all that. And his background likely played a major role in what kind of 20 year old man he is today. But then, I personally feel a lot more sympathy for the 4 year old little boy who lost his dad than I do for the 20 year old man he is today. At some point -- and 20 is definitely there -- you are responsible for who you are and what you do, regardless of how/why you got there.

Bottom line is that why he behaves the way he does is much less important from a basketball perspective than the simple fact of the behavior itself. From a basketball perspective, what I care about is that he's engaged in a pattern of conduct that is making him unable to contribute. His team is progressing and developing without him, guys are finding their roles, and he isn't a part of any of that. We also know that the Cavs don't even want him practicing with the rest of the team. Whether that's because he'd be a problem in the locker room, or because he isn't ready mentally/emotionally, or because he's got disciplinary issues...who the fuck knows? Point is, he's not practicing with this teammates, and why the Cavs decided that, or perhaps why KPJ himself decided that, doesn't change the bottom line. And that bottom line isn't a good sign for him being a reliable piece of the puzzle moving forward.

Hmm the age of 20 doesn't necessarily serve as a proxy for adult responsibility as it doesn't match brain development necessarily. Prefrontal cortex is still growing and also aspect like myelination, synapse formation don't seem really reach maturity till 25

I think this understated reason of why some guys with awesome physical talent like Zach Randolph change and something clicks with them several years into their careers. It also consistent with crime date which peaks in late teen years and then starts dropping

Hopefully no drugs or alcohol involved is that this does seem to interrupt maturation. Your chance of getting addicted also follows a similar pattern. Very little evidence that marijuana is harmful in adults versus teens

 

[Lee]

I've probably gotten more people off hard than you have.

*fixed

 

[Sebastian]

Stop with the personal attacks.

You guys can disagree about KPJ and his mental state but stop calling each other names.

 

[Boom Outta Here]

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Who is he talking to?
He looks Schizophrenic to me

Hopefully coming back soon!

 

[saymac]

Happy NEW YEARS KEVIN WISH YOU THE BEST AND WILL BE HAPPY WHEN YOUR BACK ON THE FLOOR PLAYING BASKETBALL WITH OUR CAVS.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Happy NEW YEARS KEVIN WISH YOU THE BEST AND WILL BE HAPPY WHEN YOUR BACK ON THE FLOOR PLAYING BASKETBALL WITH OUR CAVS.

Can someone volunteer to buy saymac a new keyboard? I can arrange a group buy.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Hmm the age of 20 doesn't necessarily serve as a proxy for adult responsibility as it doesn't match brain development necessarily. Prefrontal cortex is still growing and also aspect like myelination, synapse formation don't seem really reach maturity till 25

I think this understated reason of why some guys with awesome physical talent like Zach Randolph change and something clicks with them several years into their careers. It also consistent with crime date which peaks in late teen years and then starts dropping

Hopefully no drugs or alcohol involved is that this does seem to interrupt maturation. Your chance of getting addicted also follows a similar pattern. Very little evidence that marijuana is harmful in adults versus teens

Is every part of someone's brain 100% fully developed before 25? Apparently not. But the question is whether or not the undeveloped percentage is so significant that we shouldn't consider 20 year olds mentally competent and/or responsible for their actions.