The Cavaliers have found a taker for Kevin Porter Jr.
Cleveland is trading the second-year wing player to the Rockets, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported late Thursday. It will receive a protected second-round draft pick in return. The Associated Press reported the deal was pending NBA approval.
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The Cavs decided to move Porter after he threw a tantrum over the team giving his locker to newly acquired veteran Taurean Prince and moving him to another part of the locker room. The Athletic reported the Jan. 15 outburst included Porter throwing food and being "combative" during an argument with general manager Koby Altman.
Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Monday spoke of Porter as a soon-to-be-former member of the organization.
"We all want to see Kevin be successful," Bickerstaff said, per The Athletic. "I still feel that way. So whatever it is that happens in the future for him, I hope nothing but the best for him. And it’s part of our responsibility as coaches to give everyone our all and try to make the best of every situation. I can say that we did that."
Porter did not play for Cleveland this season because of unspecified personal issues. He was charged with weapon and drug offenses last November in Ohio following a car crash. Prosecutors later dropped the charges, ESPN reported.
He played in 50 games (three starts) for the Cavs last season as a rookie, averaging 10.0 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Houston will waive injured guard Chris Clemons to make room for Porter on the roster, Feigen reported.
UPDATE: Porter posted a thank you note to Cleveland fans Friday on Twitter:
— Kevin Porter Jr (@Kevinporterjr) January 22, 2021
