I'll tell you the answer right now: if he discovers that he truly loves competitive basketball, then the chase will heal him more than anything else. Engaging in your passion often and socializing are the most potent healers of the type of issues I think KPJ is dealing with. If he doesn't love basketball, he will either fail here and/or succeed in some other facet of life. They are guiding him well right now. I hope we have sufficient development staff to show habits and work on his game. I'm a huge fan.
Yeah I think we're on the same page then. Porter is a great prospect, he's really impressed me. He's got something special with the ball in his hands, there's no doubt in my mind that will translate well to the NBA. Almost Luka with less passing is a nice comparison too. Excited to see him get called up.
A guy with this kind a talent was traded for a conditional 2 round pick by a team thats currently trying to stockpile young talent. The kid has real issues, why do the Rockets need to take the kid gloves off now, what would be different? He needs to figure out what his demons are and then mature into a NBA player there is no reason to rush him, just to look better at losing? And that's after he played 50 games as a rookie its not only the locker thing there is a reason he was not around the team to begin the season
That is the biggest red flag to me. His talent and a franchise just literally giving away is very odd. From what I hear from Cleveland fans is that they are pretty pissed off about the situation and wanted to give him more time. Most are saying he was the most talented guy on the roster even more than Sexton who at 22 is looking like a future perennial top 10 player.
Well, I think people see two lefties with step back threes and make the comparison (there's definitely some resemblance in their games). I'm saying when you look at his full skillset, he is more Anfernee Simmons than he is CJ McCollum. In other words, he seems to be an excellent scorer with decent court vision, but not a player you run your offense through every play or ends up being the starting SG of the offense. For a player with his skillset, I think right now he probably is better served as a boost off the bench than us hoping for him to be Harden-lite.
Again - you are stuck in time about the only public outburst he's had with CLE - I agree so bad with the optics that what he said caused his trade, but has it been a constant, back to square one series of events for him? Sure they are enough to cause some hesitation, but you cant suffer paralysis by analysis - he has shown no reason why he needs to be treated like some guy who is always on the verge with our franchise. Figure out his demons? He had an issue at USC which caused him to face team punishment. He was pulled over with a gun and weed - both cases dropped. He was "away" from the Cavs because of some cryptic tweets that the team wanted him to discuss, but that he obviously had nobody whom he could open up to there and work through them - didnt we already debate the support system between the two teams? Basketball is his remedy - let him ball. Beating up on GLeaguers is not going to build up his confidence. That will get stale fast, but still he goes out there and performs every game - no blowups. No technicals from referees, no violent outbursts. Give the kid a little credit.
Yeah, the chance of Porter reaching the greatest offensive player in basketball history level is so small that it isn't even worth considering. Kevin Porter Jr. is his own man, maybe he gets his head screwed on straight and becomes an all star or even a franchise player (although both are long shots). The talent is undeniable though.
Porter was suspended in high school. Porter was suspended in college. Porter has been suspended in the NBA. There is a clear pattern here. Porter is accused of punching a woman in the face. Porter had so many issues that the Cavs actually told him to not play basketball and figure out her problems to start this year. Porter was removed from the Cavs facilities by security. The Cavs are rebuilding and can use as many talented players as they can get.... and yet the Cavs literally gave him away and wanted nothing to do with him. So YES, the Rockets and their fans should not count on a 20 year old with demons until he establishes a long track record of no problems. People with deep rooted issues don't just suddenly say "I'm good", it takes a long time and often therapy and sometimes medical intervention. This is likely going to be a long process.
Well I will politely disagree with you. Guy is 20. His story is heartbreaking and backing off of him and expecting calamity isn't really helping him out as fans. He is one of the only bright spots in this organization, and I'll ask you too - what has he done as a member of the HOUSTON ROCKETS that causes your concern? He's been a model teammate and citizen thus far and I'll treat him like one until he displays behavior that would not allow me to root for him. Concerning series of events leading up to his Houston career? Absolutely. Some people mature faster - some slower. Some people have dads murdered some don't. You have to give him credit for where he is at, and not keep bringing him down for where he's been.
I think @Nook point is simply that we need to see Porter have like 1 to 2 complete consecutive years of causing zero problems to be comfortable saying that he's reformed. It's definitely a promising start with the Vipers. He's taken going down to a lesser league very well for a guy who has played well on a NBA court his rookie year. That's a good start. Let him finish off completing the bubble play with the Vipers and then he can join the Rockets and hopefully by then he has made close connections with guys who seem mature like KMJ. Hopefully that is the new crowd he hangs out with.
Agreed, I think he can be much better than Crawford though. He's very smooth and has a natural feel for the game. He's a top lotto pick talent if his head is screwed on right. In no way does his game compare to Gordon's other than his ability to shoot the three. They dont have the same body type and KPJ doesn't play with the same looking for contact the way Gordon does.
I just don't think we should assume he's irredeemable....and that's what it seems some are doing. Should we assume he'll turn things around? No, but we also shouldn't assume he won't. Between Porter, Thomas, and KMJ, there's a reason to watch the RGV Vipers again, that means there's a chance that the Rockets have some "hidden" NBA talent on the roster (though Thomas isn't on the roster anymore, they need to fix that as soon as practical) If the Rockets successfully tank and land a top 4 pick, there is legitimate reason to believe that their rebuild could be a quick one. That's a pretty good situation given what Harden did to the team.
Oh I agree that he can be much better than Crawford. I'm just saying his floor if he gets his head right is probably Jamal Crawford. If his mental health issues reemerge he'll just be out of the league but so far so good with the Vipers. If he fully reforms his ceiling is a top 10 player and his floor would be a Jamal Crawford type career which isn't bad as Crawford has a really long good NBA career. Same with Gordon but KPJ's playstyle is closer to Crawford than EG.
It's literally impossible to say what will happen with KPJ. He could put it all together immediately and there be no issues. He could take a while to figure it out. He may never fully figure it out. There's no reason to assume one way or another how his mental health will progress because there isn't a blue print to it. Every person's health is unique and I promise, no one has the clear answer. He's in the G-League getting some structure and when the bubble is over, the team will likely have a set plan in place to try to have him fall into the immediate category. We don't know his mental health status and we don't know exactly what happened. Discussing it is a bit weird and should be left alone. I hope he finds happiness and peace in life one way or another.
I would say at the very least that it's a positive sign we haven't heard anything negative about locker room issues with the Vipers. Handling a downgrade to a lesser league can either humble a player or make them angry and unresponsive. Seems like hopefully it's humbling KPJ. Hopefully he's hanging out with people like KMJ off the court.
I don't know what is going on with KPJ and I'm not going to assume anything. He's 20 years old and while his body is likely still developing, he's experienced more hardship than most will see in their lives. As a fan of the Rockets, I would love for him to put it all together and become a superstar. As a human, I understand mental health is a fragile thing and I hope he's getting all of the help that he needs and can find some inner peace despite his tribulations.
I get it 100% - its not illogical to be cautiously optimistic. I dont think you need to see X amount of time without "problems" because what is going to be considered a problem? Will going out to strip clubs be a problem? Would making typical 20 yr old mistakes be a problem? I don't want him carrying guns thats for sure. I don't want him claiming to be a slave either. I'll appreciate his struggles and hope he can overcome. Im not downgrading the concern, but I see guys throwing around bi polar type this and bi polar manic that and its starting to evolve into something that feels uncomfortable for me to support.
Yes. Porter has had years of problems and dysfunction and he needs to show an extended period of time where there isn't problems before he can be completely trusted. I am not saying the Rockets shouldn't play him or run the offense through him, but it is a buyer beware scenario for awhile. Porter should be promoted to the Rockets once the G-League is finished and he will just need more attention than most players. It is also possible that he will be on medication and have counseling, if he does that his chances of success are far better. To me, I am not concerned about his talent, I know he can be a starting lead guard; it is the stuff off the court that is concerning. Most players have question marks when they are young, his are just different than most players.
Charles Barkley beat people up and threw a man through a window. Just sayin. Also, didn't the great Hakeem Olajuwan slap the sh** outta somebody?
Who said it is illogical to be cautiously optimistic. I even earlier said it is good to be cautiously optimistic, but to also be a realist and understand there is also a good chance he doesn't make it. What is considered a problem? Being suspended, punching women in the face, having security escort you from your own team, texting about suicide and having extended hiatuses from the team all are a problem. Those are all genuine concerns and won't be tolerated in the NBA.
