Lonzo Ball has been a DNP-Coach’s Decision in the Cleveland Cavaliers' last two games. Is this a sign of what's to come for Kenny Atkinson's rotation?
When the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Lonzo Ball over the offseason, the hope was that he could be a slasher-type, playmaker, and defensive presence off the bench to lead the second unit.
So far, the experiment has gone as planned with Ball shooting 29.9 percent from the floor and 25.6 percent from behind the arc, albeit while averaging 4.6 assists a game.
Now, for the second straight game, Ball has logged a DNP-Coach’s Decision, while Craig Porter Jr. gets rewarded with more minutes for his hard work and impact.
Is Ball at risk of losing his spot in Cleveland’s rotation?
Cleveland’s head coach talked about the situation after Wednesday’s win over the Phoenix Suns, and said the decision to go with Porter in the rotation had to do with “kind of sticking with what worked in San Antonio, just where we got, had a groove, I just felt it.”
Even though Ball hasn’t played in the last two games, Atkinson did stress This is not permanent, by any means. But, sometimes you find a combination that's working, you stick with it.”
To Ball’s credit, Atkinson made sure to point out that he’s still a positive presence for the team, saying, Zo's great. He's great on the bench. great, great spirit. He gets it.”
It’s hard to argue with the positive impact that Porter has brought off the bench lately. In Cleveland’s last two wins against quality opponents, the third-year guard has netted a +20, while giving Cleveland extra possessions due to rebounds and hard-fought defense.
Dec 14, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball (2) defends Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn ImagesAtkinson also pointed out that this stretch is a great opportunity for Ball to stay healthy and reset, because the Cavaliers know they’re going to need him down the line.
“He gets these days to recover and build his body, and that's important for us,” explained Atkinson. “I'm gonna keep saying that we're gonna need him. He's a playoff basketball player. This is a good little stretch for him to get his body in even better condition.”
So, even though Ball has been passed over in the rotation the last two games, it doesn’t appear he’s fully losing his role on the team. However, if Porter continues to play at a high level, Atkinson will be forced to make some tough decisions regarding playing time.