“In no way are we downplaying or diminishing or condoning domestic violence,” Lawrence Frank said less than a week after the LA Clippers signed Kevin Porter Jr. to a two-year contract in July. It has been a year since the 24-year-old was arrested in New York for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend, Kysre Gondrezick. Back then, the NBA opened an investigation into the matter. However, it was put on hold when the OKC Thunder waived him. Now that he is back in the league, they have resumed the investigation. So, why did the Clippers take such a huge risk signing the controversial guard?

Ty Lue has the answer to that. In his media availability, the Clippers coach explained the reason for such a move. “He definitely can make an impact. You don’t get paid $20 million a year in Houston if you can’t play. He’s a great talent,” Lue said in response to Tomer Azarly’s query about whether Porter would be a rotation player for the team.

Moreover, the 47-year-old iterated that it was his responsibility to make sure KPJ showcased his best performance. “He can score the basketball, he can make plays, and I’m gonna stay on him and coach him hard. He’s a great talent. For us to have success, he’s gonna be a big part of that, so I’m excited for him and the opportunity to coach him,” Ty added.

There’s no arguing that Kevin Porter Jr. is indeed a versatile scorer. The former USC product can score at all three levels – driving, mid-range, and shooting from deep. Given that the team now lacks a consistent backup guard due to Russell Westbrook’s leave-taking, the 2019 first-round pick can be effective in taking point on the offense in the second unit.

In his last season playing in the NBA, 2022-23 with Houston, Porter scored 19.2 points per game while playing 34.3 minutes on average. He also had 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting a remarkable 44.2% from the field and 36.6% from the three. But that wasn’t all.

As Lue pointed out, the G League scoring leader is also an exceptional playmaker. His court vision allows him to facilitate offense as well as create scoring opportunities for teammates. Porter does play his best when he has the ball in his hands. While these aspects make him an ideal candidate with the Clippers, his off-court fit still remains a point of contention.

Kevin Porter Jr.’s troubled past meets the Clippers’ history of second chances

The issue with Gondrezick was the most recent in a list of past troubles Kevin has in his closet. In 2020, he faced accusations of punching a woman and pulling her hair in downtown Cleveland. The woman had alleged that Porter intervened while she was arguing with his sister. The young guard, however, was not charged.

The same year, authorities arrested him once again for possessing a loaded gun after a single-car accident. But later, authorities determined that both the gun and the car belonged to his mother, and he was released after posting a $4,000 bond. But he did not just have run-ins with the law. Porter was involved in an on-court incident, as well.

In fact, his locker room outburst was what led to his trade from Cleveland. Kevin was mad that his locker was given to someone else and reportedly started yelling, and at one point even started throwing food. Even though the Cavs GM, Koby Altman, intervened in an effort to calm him, Porter did not back down (per CBS Sports). Four days after the incident, they traded him to Houston.

Despite it all, the Clippers believed in giving him a second chance. And it was no coincidence. If you look at a few past instances, you’ll see that this isn’t the first time LA has taken on “reclamation projects,” as Frank described them. First, it was Joshua Primo. The Spurs waived him on October 22 for “indecent exposure to women.” Although they signed him, Primo mostly played in the Clippers’ G League.

After he was waived in the last week of the regular season by LA, Kai Jones took Porter’s spot. The Hornets’ first-round pick had gotten into trouble after going live on IG last September, displaying bizarre behavior, which included criticism of teammates, sweating and speaking incoherently, etc. Jones denied being under the influence of any intoxicating substance. But Charlotte wasn’t sure about his fit with the franchise and waived him. And the Clippers signed him in April 2024.

But the franchise believed in giving an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. Hopefully, they make use of this chance.