The Cleveland Cavs are bringing Craig Porter Jr. back for the 2026-27 season. A decade removed from the first title in franchise history, the 2016 Cavs celebrated the 10-year anniversary. Looking back on the franchise’s best season ever, veteran center Kevin Love documented the Cavs’ reunion. However, after the New York Knicks swept Cleveland, 4-0, in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals, the front office made its first offseason signing of the summer.
Porter Jr, enterting the fourth and final year of his contract, has agreed to a team option for the 2026-27 season.
“We have exercised the fourth-year team option on Craig Porter Jr.,” the Cavs announced.
Craig Porter Jr averaged 4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 17.9 minutes per game for the Cavs last season. He became the first player in Cavs history to finish a game with at least 19 points, nine assists, four blocks and three steals, and only the second NBA player to do so, as only Hall of Fame forward Cliff Robinson accomplished a similar feat with 22 points, eight assists, four blocks, and three steals in 1993.
Although Porter Jr eventually lost his spot in Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson’s rotation after Cleveland’s trade with the LA Clippers for All-Star guard James Harden, Porter Jr will look to make another stride in his development. Watching the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 4-1, in the NBA Finals should teach teams to prioritize improving its supporting cast around the All-Star talents, such as Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Harden.
Perhaps that’s what the Cavs were considering when they inked Porter Jr. to his fourth-year option for the 2026-27 season, worth a team-friendly, $2.4 million.