CLEVELAND, Ohio — In the absence of four key rotational players, the Cavs’ nightly lineup has become a fascinating laboratory experiment under head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Against Atlanta, fans witnessed everything from “super big” lineups featuring De’Andre Hunter, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Larry Nance Jr., and Evan Mobley to “super small” configurations with Dean Wade sliding over to the five spot.
This rotational roulette has ignited fierce competition for minutes, creating a simple but demanding challenge for Cleveland’s role players: figure out your unique contribution or watch from the bench.
“With all of these role players, we always ask, okay, what’s your thing? What is the thing that’s going to get you minutes? What’s the thing that’s going to keep you on the floor?” explained Chris Fedor on the Wine and Gold Talk podcast.
For Craig Porter Jr., that “thing” has become clear. Relentless hustle and energy. The 6-foot-1 guard remarkably grabbed seven rebounds against Atlanta, second only to Evan Mobley’s eight. It’s these effort plays that catch the attention of both coaches and star players.
“There was a play in the second half late in the game where Craig Porter Jr. tapped a rebound, kept it alive, batted it out to the perimeter, and it finished with the Cavs scoring,” Fedor recalled. “And then Donovan Mitchell’s going nuts on the sidelines … he comes off the bench and the first person that he greets is Craig Porter Jr.”
Meanwhile, the limited role of energetic big man Thomas Bryant has become a point of contention.
Despite Atkinson repeatedly praising Bryant’s energy, he received just five minutes against Atlanta.
“If a guy is 1 of 9 and 0 of 4 [from deep] and is 6 foot 10 and has got four rebounds and has continuously struggled to grab boards, why not give the shot to Thomas Bryant? Why not give him more than five minutes?” questioned podcast host Ethan Sands, highlighting Larry Nance Jr.’s ongoing struggles.
Fedor offered insight into the coaching staff’s thinking: “The benefit that Larry is getting is the position that he plays and the role and the multi-positional skill set that he brings to the table which is just different than Thomas Bryant’s a 1-position player. Larry Nance Jr. is a multi-positional player.”
This positional versatility creates a complex puzzle that Atkinson must solve nightly. With Jarrett Allen sidelined, the coach has experimented with lineups that would have seemed unimaginable just weeks ago.
For Atkinson and his staff, these experimental combinations serve a dual purpose – finding workable solutions in the short term while gathering data for when the team returns to full strength.
“When you’re this deep into your rotation, you probably do have to make these either-or decisions,” Fedor explained.
As the Cavaliers continue navigating this injury-plagued stretch, the rotational battles provide an unexpected silver lining – the chance to identify role players who can contribute meaningful minutes once the roster is whole again.
For players like Porter, Bryant, and others fighting for playing time, the mission remains clear: find your unique value proposition, execute it consistently, and prove you deserve to stay on the floor when reinforcements arrive.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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