It looks like the Cleveland Cavaliers are turning up the pressure on one of their younger guards, and Craig Porter Jr. is officially on notice. After a quiet sophomore campaign that saw Porter take a step back in the rotation, the Cavaliers are signaling it’s time for the 25-year-old to bring more than just poise and solid ball-handling. According to veteran reporter Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, the team is planning to “challenge” Porter heading into the 2025-26 season. Translation? The Cavs want some fire, not just flashes.
“The opportunity is there: The Cavs plan to challenge Craig Porter Jr,” Pluto wrote, according to Cavaliers Nation. “The point guard is heading into his third NBA season. While most of the discussion about Porter is about improving his 3-point shooting, the Cavs see other key areas that need an upgrade. They want him to be more assertive. His work ethic is fine, but it needs to be better than OK. That’s a subtle-but-clear way of saying: step it up, Craig.
This past season, Porter’s numbers dipped across the board. He played in 51 games for the second straight year but saw declines in minutes, points, assists, and rebounds. He started only one game and often found himself buried on the bench behind a more crowded backcourt rotation. But now? He might be back in the mix, and not just because the Cavs suddenly found religion about his potential.
Can Craig Porter Jr. Get Into The Main Rotation
Ty Jerome, the team’s backup guard who quietly turned into one of the NBA’s most productive bench players, might be gone this summer. Jerome is a free agent, and even though he had a solid regular season, the Indiana series exposed a few cracks. His struggles with full-court pressure and lack of speed were hard to ignore, and a bigger payday could be waiting elsewhere.
Pluto didn’t mince words: “As for Ty Jerome: The Cavs don’t know if he’ll be back… That’s part of the reason the Cavs plan to push Porter harder than in the past.”
The timing for this challenge is no accident. Cleveland flamed out in the second round of the playoffs again, and the front office clearly has its eyes on teams like Indiana and OKC. Those squads play with grit, speed, and a chip on their shoulders. Cleveland wants to match that energy, and they believe Porter could be one of the guys to help them get there. But here’s the thing: the tools are there.
Craig Porter Jr. Has A Chance in Cleveland
Porter showed flashes when given the chance. In the final three games of the regular season. When Cleveland had the top seed locked up, Porter got real minutes and made the most of them. He scored 47 points and dished out nine assists across those games. Then came his mini-breakout against the Pacers on April 13: 20 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 4 threes in a double-overtime thriller. It wasn’t just a stat-padding game. It was a reminder of what Porter can do when he’s turned loose.
But now, the Cavs want more than flashes. They want leadership. They want him in top-tier shape. They want intensity. And yeah, they want some fire. It’s a classic “prove-it” moment. Craig Porter Jr. has the ball-handling. He’s got poise. He’s entering Year 3. If Jerome walks and the Cavs don’t add another veteran guard, the runway is wide open.
The question is: will Porter take off, because in a league where backup point guards are expected to be more than just steady, the Cavs are ready to find out if Craig Porter Jr. is just another nice story, or the spark Cleveland’s been waiting for.
Emma Taylor 
