Cleveland trades Porter to Houston

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Porter quickly went from being a future star with the Cavaliers to part of their past.

Cleveland completed its trade with Houston on Friday, sending Porter to the Rockets for a second-round draft pick, a deal the Cavs had no choice to make after running out of patience with a player they once viewed as a possible franchise cornerstone.

The teams agreed to the swap on Thursday night, less than a week after Porter’s outburst in Cleveland’s locker room convinced the team it had to part with the 20-year-old.

“After careful and thoughtful evaluation, we made the very difficult and collective decision to make this trade,” Cavs general manager Koby Altman said. “Given the culture and environment we have worked to cultivate here in Cleveland, we feel this move is in everyone’s best interest.

“Kevin has a bright career ahead of him as a professional basketball player and, at his core, is a good person. We wish Kevin and his family well in Houston.”

Porter posted a message on Twitter, thanking Cleveland fans, the Cavs’ organization, his teammates and coaches.

“Thank you for being there & welcoming me as family every step of the way,” he wrote. “Making a Seattle youngster feel at home in Ohio. Forever grateful for the moments we created and best of luck to you all!”

The Cavs positioned themselves to draft Porter in 2019, selecting with with the No. 30 pick after he slid past numerous teams who were scared off by his issues while at USC. And while he was far from a finished product, the team was mesmerized by the 6-foot-4 swingman’s potential and considered him one of the core pieces of its rebuild.

Porter averaged 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists as a rookie and was one of Cleveland’s few bright spots in a 2019 season ended prematurely by the COVID-19 pandemic. But starting last summer, Porter’s off-the-floor issues began to mount.