Analyst Urges Cavs To Add 1 Rookie Into The Rotation

The Cleveland Cavaliers were on a three-game winning streak heading into their recent matchup against the Orlando Magic.

It was undoubtedly not an acceptable performance by the team, as the final score stood at 94-104.

In the 10-point defeat, most players of the team struggled to shoot from the floor, apart from Darius Garland, who had a 36-point performance while shooting 11-23 from the field.

Despite most players struggling from the field, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff still stuck to the team’s nine-man rotation rather than giving a chance to rookie Craig Porter Jr.

NBA analyst Carter Rodriguez recently urged the organization to include Craig Porter Jr. via his official Twitter handle.

“He’s not perfect, he probably can’t share the floor with Okoro, but I think you can stack lineups well enough to avoid that combo,” Rodriguez wrote.

Especially with LeVert out, I think you really have to play CPJ. He's not perfect, he probably can't share the floor with Okoro, but I think you can stack lineups well enough to avoid that combo.

— Carter Rodriguez (@Carter_Shade) December 12, 2023

Rodriguez pointed out that the Cavaliers are in desperate need of a player like Porter Jr. amidst Caris LeVert being sidelined due to an injury.

Porter Jr. has played 14 games this season, averaging 7.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game for the Cavaliers.

But whenever the rookie has played more than 10 minutes in a game, his numbers have significantly improved.

Keeping that in mind, it makes sense to give rotational minutes to Craig Porter Jr., at least until Caris LeVert returns from his injury.

Following the defeat, the Cavaliers have fallen to a 13-10 record as they have slipped to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.

While the Cavaliers are still three games above the .500 mark, they haven’t played like a championship contender so far in this season.

The Cavaliers are all set to play against the Boston Celtics tonight, and coach Bickerstaff could try this new rotation with Porter Jr. in it.