Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers’ four-game winning streak came to an end at home against the Miami Heat, there was one bright spot in the midst of the gloom. Craig Porter Jr., an undrafted point guard out of Wichita State, has been thrown into the Cavs’ rotation as a result of Cleveland’s injury woes. Typically, Porter would spend most of his time with the Cleveland Charge, the team’s NBA G League affiliate, developing as the Cavs’ backup point guard of the future.

After four straight strong performances, it appears that Porter’s time with head coach Mike Gerrity and fellow two-way players Emoni Bates and Isaiah Mobley in the G League is over. Porter has averaged 15.3 points on 57.8% shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, a block, and a steal in 25.8 minutes per game in those four games.

Porter has been a lifesaver for Cleveland anytime he has come off the bench or started alongside Darius Garland against Miami. He has provided the Cavaliers with something they have lacked since Ricky Rubio tore his ACL against the New Orleans Pelicans in 2021: a healthy, dependable, and consistent backup point guard.

Sure, the Cavs have Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Carmelo Anthony to handle the majority of the ball. However, when Garland sits, Cleveland’s offense suffers since it lacks dynamic playmaking. The Cavs look to have covered the gap for when Garland rests 12 to 15 minutes per game, with Porter controlling the show with the bench unit.

Granted, Porter will never provide Cleveland with the vibrancy and theatrics that Garland offers on a regular basis. Instead, consider the following: Garland is the offensive system for Cleveland, much like Steve Nash was for the Phoenix Suns. Porter, on the other hand, is similar to Leandro Barbosa in that he is capable of running the offense when the primary engine is out and keeps the overall system humming with his playmaking while providing a heavy enough scoring punch to boot.

That comparison soon breaks apart when you consider Porter is a far superior defender than Barbosa was with the Seven Seconds or Less Suns. However, this is simply a baseline comparison and an example of how important Porter will be to the Cavs as the season progresses. There will be nights when Garland sits, and Cleveland will no longer have to rely on ball handling by committee; instead, Porter will handle the responsibility.

Again, it’s insane to think about considering Porter’s career track. But when the rookie guard shows no fear driving into the chest of the NBA’s reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, and scoring a clutch-time basket, it demonstrates his fearlessness and the fact that he isn’t fazed by his rookie status or the magnitude of the event. More significantly, it demonstrates that Porter has done more than enough to win the Cavs’ and their coaching staff’s trust.

That trust will be critical as things progress for Cleveland, but for now, they’ve solved the puzzle of finding a solid backup to Darius Garland. Given that Craig Porter Jr. is a few months older, it’s not exactly a student assisting a mentor situation. Instead, two powerful, intellectual guards can help lead the Cavs to the playoffs and, eventually, a championship.