Kevin Porter’s game has long been compared to that of James Harden’s: the shared dominant hand, the handles, the upper body strength, the on-court swagger and quirkiness. The Rockets see the similarities, too, and want to mold them accordingly. Harden’s career arc evolved from an off-ball shooting guard to a player whose best work was done with the ball in his hands, allowing him the freedom and space to operate as a primary playmaker. Sources say Silas envisions a similar role for Porter with the second unit. Silas and his coaching staff see Porter as a point guard, different from the shooting guard/small forward role he played last season with the Cavaliers. While Porter occasionally handled the ball as a rookie in Cleveland, he never played the role exclusively; per tracking data via NBA.com, only 26.2 percent of Porter’s possessions came as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll.
