Cavs Challenging Key Player To Earn More Playing Time

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost one of their most important players, but they replaced him shortly after.

Ty Jerome had a breakout season, but Lonzo Ball still feels like an upgrade, provided that he can stay healthy.

Then again, Ball, unlike Jerome, is a pass-first guard, and he’s better suited to have the ball in his hands.

That might represent a problem for Craig Porter Jr., who struggled to find much playing time last season despite being able to coexist in the backcourt with Jerome.

With that in mind, team insider Terry Pluto revealed that the Cavs want to see more effort from their young point guard, and they’re reportedly pushing his buttons to make sure he proves how much he wants it:

“The Cavs also are working with Craig Porter Jr. to raise the level of his intensity and work ethic. Another Cavs source told me that Porter’s dedication ‘was OK,’ but he needs to become one of those ‘first in the gym, last to leave’ guys if he wants to push for more playing time,” Pluto wrote.

Porter looked solid in limited minutes, but coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t seem to trust him for long stretches.

He wasn’t a factor in the playoffs, either, although that wasn’t entirely on him.

That’s another area in which Ball could come in handy for this team.

He could take him under his wing and help him take his game to the next level.

He will certainly challenge Porter in practice every single day, and hopefully, some friendly competition will bring out the best in him.

This will be a make-or-break season for the young point guard, and he will become a prime trade candidate if he fails to show the type of chip on his shoulder the Cavs want to see from him.