Around the Beat: The Backup Guard Fight and the Harden Trade…

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 10

Cleveland's local and national coverage this week zeroed in on four threads: who backs up Donovan Mitchell at the point, whether Dean Wade's signing was a steal, if the Harden-for-Garland deal still looks lopsided, and what national previews expect from Mitchell and Evan Mobley this fall. None of those threads change the roster or the numbers Cleveland actually has on file.

Cavaliers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Who's actually winning the backup point guard job?

King James Gospel's Josh Cornelissen wrote that Craig Porter Jr. won the backup job in a single game, while Cavs.com had Tyrese Proctor saying he feels confident entering year two. The same outlet flagged a Meleek Thomas-to-Maxey comparison as a warning, not a promise. Cleveland.com's podcast framed Proctor's offseason around winning that job. Porter Jr., Proctor, Thomas and new signee Kadary Richmond are all still on the guard depth chart.

Was signing Dean Wade actually an upgrade?

King James Gospel's Caleb Crowley called the Dean Wade pickup a near-accidental upgrade. The lineup numbers back that framing more than the roster sheet does: the Mitchell-Allen-Wade-Mobley-Tyson group has been Cleveland's best five-man unit so far, a net rating of plus-15.4. That is one encouraging stretch, not a verdict on the season.

Do people still think Cleveland lost the Harden-Garland trade?

King James Gospel's Svyatoslav Rovenchuk pushed back on the idea that Cleveland came out behind in the Harden-for-Garland swap. The facts: Harden, 37, carries a $30.6 million cap number this season; Garland does not. Last season Harden averaged 23.6 points and 8.0 assists in 70 games, numbers that support the column's case more than they settle it.

What are the national previews saying about Mitchell and Mobley?

Fear The Sword ran separate previews calling Mitchell measured in the playoffs and asking whether Cleveland's faith in Mobley will pay off this season. Both lean on last season's numbers: Mitchell's 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists a night, Mobley's 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Neither preview offers a storyline Cleveland fans haven't already debated all summer.

The verdictThe beat is trading depth-chart guesses and trade grades right now; the roster Cleveland actually has, and the box score coming, will settle more than any of these columns can.

Has Craig Porter Jr. officially won the backup point guard job?

No. King James Gospel reported he looked like the leader after one preseason game, but Tyrese Proctor, Meleek Thomas and Kadary Richmond are all still competing for that same spot.

Did the Cavaliers lose the James Harden-Darius Garland trade?

That is still a debate among outlets, not a settled fact. Harden carries a $30.6 million cap number this season; Garland is gone, and last season's numbers are the only evidence either side has cited.

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.