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Cleveland Cavaliers trade up, select Kevin Porter Jr. with No. 30 pick in 2019 NBA Draft

Making a deal with the Detroit Pistons, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired the No. 30 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, which they used on USC guard Kevin Porter.
Credit: AP
USC Trojans guard Kevin Porter Jr. (4) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2019, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Cleveland Cavaliers had already made two picks as the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft neared its end.

But they weren't done yet.

Making a deal with the Detroit Pistons, the Cavs acquired the No. 30 -- and final first-round pick -- in Thursday's draft, which they used to draft USC guard Kevin Porter Jr.

A former 5-star prospect, Porter arrived at USC with lofty expectations, but only saw limited time in his freshman season due to injury and suspension. In 21 games -- 4 starts -- the 6-foot-6 guard averaged 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 22.1 minutes per game.

According to ESPN's Mike Schmitz, Porter entered the draft as one of its most "polarizing" players.

"One of the more naturally gifted players in the draft, Porter had a roller-coaster ride of a season. Long known in the Pacific Northwest for his bucket-getting prowess, the RSCI No. 32 recruit entered the season with a fair amount of buzz and backed it up early on, scoring 70 points in his first five games with some jaw-dropping highlights against Vanderbilt and Texas Tech," Schmitz wrote. "Porter eventually suffered a deep thigh contusion that kept him out for the better part of six weeks, causing scouts to speculate about whether he was opting to shut it down for the season.

"After his absence and the noise surrounding it caused frustration within the program, Porter eventually returned and had an extremely inconsistent season that featured a suspension and a few dud performances. But he also made some spectacular highlights that only a few players in this draft could provide. Because of his uneven season, spotty intel about his approach to the game and yet his tremendous natural talent, Porter is one of the draft's most polarizing players. Situation figures to play a key role in whether he's able to maximize his sky-high potential."

In coming to Cleveland, Porter joins Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland (No. 5) and Belmont forward Dylan Windler (No. 26) as the third of the team's three first-round picks. According to Yahoo Sports Shams Charania, the Cavs traded four future second-round picks and cash to Detroit for the pick.

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