BOSTON -- The Cleveland Cavaliers had numerous thoughts behind their recent trade with the Utah Jazz. But one name specifically came to mind.

It wasn’t Dante Exum, the former Jazz first-round pick who practiced with the Cavaliers for the first time on Thursday afternoon and could make his debut in Boston tonight. It wasn’t even Jordan Clarkson, the prolific scorer the Jazz targeted in hopes he would boost their woeful, 29th-ranked bench.

No, the Cavs were thinking of someone else: Kevin Porter Jr.

The Cavs know they will miss Clarkson’s experience, offensive exploits and improved defense. It wasn’t easy to trade him. He was an integral component of Cleveland’s bench and a staple in many of the team’s most successful five-man groupings. But sending Clarkson to Utah, where he gets a chance to play on a potential playoff contender, was, in many ways, about Porter, the promising 19-year-old rookie whose early impact helped make Clarkson expendable.

Drafted 30th overall, the final piece of Cleveland’s 2019 draft class, Porter’s continued development eventually had to step to the forefront. His time is now.

Unlike Clarkson, who was likely going to leave as an unrestricted free agent following this season, Porter is one of the team’s building blocks. Teammates, coaches and members of the front office have raved about his talent for months, and Porter continues to show flashes of possibly being able to change the view of this rebuild.

On the season, he’s averaging 8.1 points on 44.3% from the field and 32.5% from 3-point range. Those numbers go with 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and a handful of jaw-dropping plays that spotlight his upside. Since the calendar flipped to December, with the rookie receiving more consistent playing time, Porter is averaging 11.1 points on 51.1% shooting and 43.6% on 3-pointers to go with 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

He’s earned a bigger role. He needs more minutes. He deserves late-game, high-stress run -- similar to Monday night. That experience will aid his growth -- a big part of what defines success this season. Only it was tough to find a spot for him in crunch time, especially with Clarkson being one of head coach John Beilein’s go-to options.

With Clarkson now in Utah, the Cavs can get a closer -- and longer -- look at Porter. He played nine fourth-quarter minutes against Atlanta on Monday and tallied nine points on 4-of-5 shooting.

Beyond that, the Cavs also had Porter in mind with the trade return -- Exum and a pair of second-round picks.

After discussing Clarkson with many teams, sources say the Cavs didn’t believe they could pry away a first-round pick. They weren’t going to hold out for one, especially if it meant watching other trade options on the market take up all the likely destinations. Plus, the Cavs believe being fair and reasonable with their ask helps them in negotiations. It makes doing repeat business with a team, similar to what the Cavs have done with Utah the last three years, more likely.

Given that, two seconds caught their attention.

Forget this idea that second-round picks aren’t valuable. The Cavs have seen in recent years how profitable they can be. It’s not always about the player selected either. There are many ways to use draft picks. After all, it’s how the Cavs moved into position for Porter.

About 10 months ago, the Cavs had a talented veteran swingman on an expiring contract. It was Rodney Hood, who the Cavs flipped to Portland in a pre-deadline deal that brought back Nik Stauskas and multiple unprotected second-round picks.

Those two selections added in that deal, along with a pair of other second-rounders (Miami’s 2024 and Utah’s 2020) were packaged to the Detroit Pistons along with $5 million for Porter’s draft rights. Without that Hood trade, the Cavs wouldn’t have had enough inventory to vault back into the first round for Porter. He’d be playing elsewhere.

The two second-rounders added from Utah in the Clarkson deal may be even more valuable than at first glance as well. Much of the draft capital Cleveland has been seeking is 2022 or later. There’s a reason for that. It’s the year many around the league are anticipating the age restriction to be lifted in the draft, which would deepen the talent pool.

Shortly after LeBron James’ departure, the Cavs shifted into asset-accumulation mode. They knew the importance of restocking that cupboard, one that was bare following countless win-now moves in a four-year Finals run. Rebuilding teams also need young players on team-friendly deals, tradable contracts and salary cap flexibility to execute this difficult process.

That last part is another layer to this Clarkson deal. The Cavs moved about $5 million below the luxury tax threshold. Before the swap, that number was about $1.3 million. That added room gives them the option of taking on extra money in other deals between now and the trade deadline. It opens up more possibilities. The Cavs also created a $3.9 million trade exception in the event that some tax team is looking to unload players to save money.

Exum, meanwhile, is a wild card. Everyone will admit that. The young Australian was the fifth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, and the Jazz couldn’t wait any longer to realize his potential. At the time they selected him, Utah was looking for upside, perhaps a potential star to carry the team into the next decade. A mysterious teenager with length, athleticism, speed, quickness, defensive versatility and room to develop, Exum fit the profile.

But injuries -- torn ACL, partial patella tendon tear, shoulder -- derailed his development. His hours were often devoted to rehabbing instead of working on his unreliable jumper, ball-handling skills or pick-and-roll game -- the many areas where he needed improvement.

Utah no longer had time to wait for Exum. The Cavs do. The Jazz aren’t in position to let him work through his mistakes and get on-court reps to maybe, possibly, become the player they hoped for five years ago. Not when they are in the middle of the Western Conference dog fight.

Free from playoff aspirations and focused on the future, Exum will get a chance to become the next Cavaliers player development success story. He can go at his own pace, without expectation, without a heavy fifth-overall pick tag -- and the pressure that comes with that.

The Cavs are hoping Exum can benefit from that change of scenery. They believe strongly in their medical and sports science staffs, investing plenty to strengthen both the last few years. Perhaps that’s what gives the Cavs a small sliver of hope. It’s hard to say Exum has been a failure on the court, that his one-time mesmerizing physical gifts haven’t translated; he hasn’t had an honest chance to prove that one way or the other. Each time the Jazz were ready to give him a bigger role, Exum crashed into an unforeseen roadblock.

But in the Cavs’ current state, it’s a worthy gamble -- even if he flops. These are the kinds of shots rebuilding teams need to take.

In the summer of 2017, the Brooklyn Nets made a similar move, taking on Timofey Mozgov’s bloated contract along with draft disappointment D’Angelo Russell.

The circumstances surrounding that deal were entirely different. So was that trade package. But the idea lined up: Search for young players other organizations are ready to give up on, bring them to your system, with your coaching staff and try to unlock that potential. Some work. Some don’t.

Russell was given a chance to become Brooklyn’s primary playmaker. He eventually proved worthy of the second overall pick.

Can Exum have a rebirth in Cleveland? The odds are against him. But he’s still just 24. He has a first-round pedigree. He’s a 6-foot-5 guard with the tools to be a tenacious perimeter defender. The Jazz used him to pester James Harden in the 2018 playoffs. It’s part of the reason Utah got pulled back in and gave Exum a contract extension that goes through the 2020-21 season.

Technically, Exum was viewed as a “bad contract” the Jazz were trying to get off their books. Unlike most, Exum actually has a chance to crack Cleveland’s rotation. If that happens, he could become a valuable trade chip next season as an expiring contract.

But the deal wasn’t about him. It was about creating more opportunities for the youngsters to play. It was about added flexibility in future trades. It was about two more second-round picks.

It was all part of the Cavs’ plan, one that centers on developing young talent in meaningful situations and stockpiling assets.

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