3 players the Rockets can build their future around

#1. Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr.

Last but certainly not least, Kevin Porter Jr. is another player the Houston Rockets can build around. Earlier this week, the team announced they acquired Kevin in a trade with the Cavaliers in exchange for a top-55 protected second-round pick.

Considering the level of protection on the pick, the Houston Rockets essentially acquired KPJ without having to give up anything. The sophomore has yet to play a game this season due to personal reasons.

After news broke out regarding Porter having a screaming match with Cleveland team officials over his locker being moved to an auxiliary area, the Cavaliers announced they would be looking to waive or trade him. Porter finished his rookie season last year averaging 10 points per game on 44-percent field goal percentage while playing about 23 minutes per game.

The Cavs’ trio of Sexton, Garland, and Porter last year looked promising with all three players having two years of experience or less. Porter was drafted with the last pick of the first round in 2019, but this was due to a disappointing freshman year at USC due to a quad injury and a suspension due to “personal conduct issues” that kept him out of the lineup for 12 of the 33 games.

Despite Porter dealing with a couple of uphill battles in his early career,  his talent hasn’t gone unnoticed, as the Houston Rockets traded for the 20-year-old. He has drawn comparisons to James Harden due to a similar style of play and he even scored a career high 30 points in a victory against the Miami Heat in his rookie year.

The offensive potential is there for Porter, but he will likely have to compete against a roster loaded with shooting guards. Nonetheless, Porter’s age and ceiling is a bright spot for the Houston Rockets, and he can definitely grow into a more meaningful role in the near future.