Houston Rockets tagged interest

The Houston Rockets announced they have acquired guard Kevin Porter Jr. from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a protected second round pick.

Porter (6-4, 203) was the 30th overall pick by the Cavaliers in the 2019 NBA Draft following his freshman season at USC.  As a rookie last season, the 20-year-old appeared in 50 games with three starts while averaging 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 23.2 minutes per game. 

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In the 2019 NBA draft, Porter was selected 30th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, but was later traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers via the Detroit Pistons. On July 3, 2019, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they had signed Porter. On October 23, 2019, Porter made his debut in the NBA, playing in a 85–94 loss to the Orlando Magic and finishing with 1 rebound, two assists and a steal. His first NBA start for the Cavaliers would come on November 19, 2019, against the New York Knicks in a 123–105 loss where he recorded a then career high 18 points in 31 minutes. Later on February 25, 2020, Porter would record a new career high of 30 points, adding 3 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals in a 125–119 OT comeback win against the Miami Heat.

Dating back to 1994-95, Porter joined Nikola Jokic (2015-16) as the only rookies to have averaged at least 10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in fewer than 25.0 mpg.

In a related move, the Houston Rockets have waived guard Chris Clemons who appeared in 33 games as a rookie last season.