Cavs have three candidates for backup point guard job

For once, the Cavaliers don’t need training camp to determine their starting lineup. The more interesting competition will take place behind it.

Craig Porter Jr., rookie Meleek Thomas and second-year guard Tyrese Proctor enter camp as the primary candidates for Cleveland’s backup point guard minutes, as Mack Perry of NBA on SI examined.

Porter should begin with the advantage. He knows Kenny Atkinson’s system, defends, rebounds exceptionally well for his size and averaged 3.2 assists in 17.9 minutes last season.

The issue remains his willingness to shoot. Porter has made 37.7 percent of his career 3-pointers but attempts only 1.1 per game. Defenses aren’t particularly concerned with percentages when the player rarely pulls the trigger.

Thomas offers the most intrigue. The No. 34 pick averaged 27.2 points during Summer League while shooting 50 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from deep.

Those numbers were terrific. They also came in Summer League, where countless August Hall of Fame careers have been launched.

Still, Thomas is the most natural shot creator of the group. If that ability translates quickly, Atkinson may have a difficult time keeping him out of the rotation.

Proctor is the wild card. He averaged 5.4 points in 50 games as a rookie but showed promise operating the pick-and-roll and navigating screens defensively. His chances may depend on whether he develops into a dependable facilitator or remains more of a combo guard.

My early guess is Porter opens the season with the job because coaches generally trust the known quantity. Thomas has the best chance to take it from him. Proctor remains close enough to complicate everything.

It may not be a starting-position battle, but with James Harden turning 37 and likely to have his minutes managed, it isn’t an insignificant one, either.