It can be hard for younger prospects to find consistent minutes on a team with championship aspirations. The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t have much room for youth development while they hunt for a title this season. For Craig Porter Jr. and rookie Tyrese Proctor — that means embracing the grind and challenging each other in practice.
“We’ve been battling,” Porter said. “I feel like it’s a good challenge for both of us. It’s what’s going to make the team better.”
Porter went undrafted in the summer of
2023 but has since earned a standard contract with the Cavaliers. His rookie season was full of promise, with scattered moments of success. Since then, Porter has been searching for the next step as his growth plateaued during his sophomore season.
Developing a three-point shot is always a safe path for an NBA prospect. This has been Porter’s goal throughout the summer, trying to round out his game and become a more complete player.
“I just feel like that was a hole I had to fill,” Porter said. “All summer long, I’ve just shot as many threes as I can, until my arms fall off, honestly.”
Porter reaped the rewards of his offseason training in Cleveland’s first preseason game. He went a perfect 5-of-5 from the three-point line and finished with a game-high 17 points in 18 minutes.
“The work paid off,” said Head Coach Kenny Atkinson. “It really starts with his conditioning… he was probably in the average range [before] but now he’s pushed himself to the 90th percentile.”
Porter will have to play with a chip on his shoulder this season. The Cavs have a club option in his contract, which means this is the final chance for CPJ to prove he belongs on the roster long term. The coaching staff expects him to stay in shape and grow into an all-around contributor. So far, so good.
As for the rookie, Proctor entered his first NBA preseason game with immediate confidence — scoring his first bucket within seconds of entering the game, off of a Craig Porter assist.
“It’s always good when you get a little layup to the basket to start,” Proctor said. “ It definitely gives you confidence, just getting started inside the paint and working your way out.”
Proctor scored his first bucket in transition and then proceeded to shoot 3-of-4 from downtown. He showcased his overall shot-making abilities with 14 points in 12 minutes, all while looking supremely comfortable for a player with zero NBA experience.
“I think when I’m playing free, it sort of comes off like that,” Proctor said. “I’m just out there in that flow state, I’m just playing my game and not really thinking about anything.”
The Cavs are loaded in the backcourt, with multiple All-Stars and savvy veterans filling the rotation when the team is fully healthy. But that doesn’t mean that Proctor and Porter won’t have opportunities to get on the court. In those moments, they’ll hope to see their hard work from the summer translate to the regular season, the same way it did in this first game of the preseason against Chicago.
“We’ve been working all summer, so now it’s just playing the game with a bunch of fans in the stadium,” Proctor said.
There is a long season ahead of us, and one preseason game will feel minuscule in just a few weeks. But this was a strong start for the two young guards — and hopefully, the beginning of a mutually beneficial rivalry.
“He’s literally my evil twin,” Porter said. “I’m glad he’s on my team.”
“Iron sharpens iron,” Proctor added in conclusion.
