CLEVELAND — A challenge offered to a backup guard hoping to carve out more of a role might be paying off for Craig Porter Jr.

As the Cavaliers reshaped their backup guard situation this summer — Ty Jerome left via free agency, Lonzo Ball was acquired via trade , Sam Merrill was re-signed and Jaylon Tyson is entering his second NBA season — Porter remained a depth option at the end of the rotation, but the Cavs wanted to see more when it came to his conditioning in order to make that a reality.

"I was challenged by the head coach, so that was a big thing for me," Porter said. "And really just my whole career, I feel like it's based off of how I accept challenges and how I attack. So this being a big one — I mean, conditioning is a part of basketball — but I feel like people

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