3 reasons the Rockets were smart in trading for Kevin Porter Jr.

2. Porter would add much needed scoring for the Rockets

Porter entered the 2019-20 season as one of the youngest players in the NBA, as he turned 19-years-old just months before the start of the season. It’s become common for rookies, and especially young players like KPJ, to struggle to adapt to the demands of the NBA in their first season, but that wasn’t a problem for the 6-foot-4 guard.

Porter averaged 10 points despite playing just 23.2 minutes per game, while making 44.2 percent of his shots and 33.5 percent from three. Porter had one of his best games against the Miami Heat, where he scored 30 points off the bench on 9-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-7 from long-range.

In addition, Porter lit up the Houston Rockets to the tune of 24 points on 60 percent from the field (9-of-15) and made six threes, finishing with a scorching 3-point clip of 66.7 percent. Porter flashed his ability to create offense for himself and use his handles to free himself for open looks.

KEVIN PORTER JR ? pic.twitter.com/TSKIN5F2Gb

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 22, 2021

Porter’s offensive contributions would be a welcome sight for a Houston Rockets team that ranks 20th in scoring this season and he’s proven to be reliable from the mid-range and 3-point range. To the latter point, Porter made 41.2 percent of his threes during his lone season at USC, which is further proof of how he can get hot from distance.

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