Golden State Warriors should take a risk on Kevin Porter Jr.

Kevin Porter Jr. is an exciting young prospect and despite his troubles, the Golden State Warriors should consider trading for him.

In a shocking twist of events, Kevin Porter Jr. is set to either be traded or released by the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is unfortunate news but lends an opportunity for a more established franchise like the Golden State Warriors to step in and potentially save the 20-year-old’s life.

Porter is a promising, yet troubling prospect. He has long battled off-court issues. In fact, it was this exact reason that he fell to the back of the first round in 2019 – despite being one of the most talented players in his class.

While he flashed immense potential as a rookie, the offseason brought a number of issues to the table. During the eight-month layoff, Porter was accused of punching a woman in the face and then found with a loaded handgun in his car after a one-vehicle accident. All of this came with concerning social media posts to go with it.

Due to this, the Cavaliers were cautious in bringing Porter back to the team. The front office elected to mostly keep him away from his peers, only allowing him to occasionally train with coaches and other staff. As far as we know, Porter has only practiced with his teammates fewer than three times since last March.

It appeared he was nearing a full return to the team last week when he finally joined the Cavaliers on the bench for their matchup with the New York Knicks. Sadly, an argument over losing his locker to newcomer Taurean Prince was the “straw that broke the camels back” as the Cavs are now looking to trade or release the young wing.

Can the Golden State Warriors help Porter?

Now, there are plenty of questions about how the Cavs handled this situation. Was it really a good idea to outcast him from his peers during such a treacherous time for this world? The global pandemic and racial tension are enough to affect anybody, let alone a young man who is already dealing with off-court problems.

It’s unclear how much of the blame can be directly placed on Porter – but he is certainly not excused of his behavior. The Warriors would have their hands full attempting to rehabilitate him, but I feel more confident in this organization than Cleveland’s in their likelihood of supporting Porter. Of course, it all comes down to Porter making the changes himself.

Nonetheless, the Warriors and Cavs could become ideal trading partners. It’s expected that the Cavaliers will attempt to package Porter with a center like Andre Drummond or JaVale McGee. Would the Warriors consider flipping their upcoming draft pick for McGee and Porter?

McGee’s veteran presence would be welcomed on the bench – while Porter is an electric shot creator that can become a foundational piece of the future to this franchise if his off-court issues can be settled.

This is obviously a risk, and one the Dubs might not be interested in as they look to create another dynasty before their core grows too old. Still, it’s worth consideration, and it can’t hurt to take a chance on an exciting prospect like Porter.