Prospect Spotlight -- Isaac Okoro

[Jamaaliver]

So, a number of draft gurus have linked us to Okoro. Here's a closer look on how Okoro might fit in with our Hawks.

From The Stepien:

[Jamaaliver]

Chris Kirschner: I’ve been wanting to ask you about Okoro since I saw him projected to the Hawks in your last mock draft. Okoro shot 29 percent from 3 at Auburn this season. So why do you feel like he would be the choice for the Hawks?

Sam Vecenie: I’m a little bit less concerned about the long-term shooting need on the wing for the Hawks than it seems you are. That team-wide percentage is being brought down by guys who are not long-term pieces on this roster. On the other hand, the long-term pieces on the perimeter can shoot.

On some level, Okoro does need to shoot it at a reasonable level to be an effective NBA player. Rather than the shooting, I’m actually a bit more worried about surrounding Young and Huerter with defenders and more athleticism, which is what Okoro absolutely brings to the table. Okoro is an above-the-rim finisher in a way that would really help Young find targets for lobs...for executives I’ve spoken with, they’re more interested in Okoro right now and consider him the top true wing in this class. If we’re trying to project what the Hawks would reasonably be expected to do, my feedback across the league is Okoro over Devin Vassell. We’ll see how that changes as we get closer to the draft — whenever that day actually comes.

And I do think the key for Atlanta in this draft is prioritizing more answers in between the lead guard and center spots. They’re set with Young. Capela gives them a good starting center who is under contract for a while. They should just keep filling out with guys who can play in-between those two. Okoro might not tick all the boxes, but he ticks important ones and has an upside for a team still on an upward trajectory in its growth process.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

ESPN Insider Mock Draft:

3. Atlanta Hawks

Best fit: Isaac Okoro
Auburn -- G/F
Age: 19.1

The Hawks could use a prospect with upside who impacts winning and doesn't need much offensive volume to be effective. Okoro fits that description perfectly. Not only does he have the explosiveness to wreak transition havoc alongside Trae Young but he's arguably the best defender in the draft. He's an active ball-mover, smart cutter and rugged rebounder.

While Okoro isn't viewed among teams as a consensus top-five prospect, he's the type to maximize his long-term potential and thrive as a high-level starter with potential to develop into more than that. A nucleus of Young, Okoro, Cam Reddish, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins and Kevin Huerter could make the Hawks one of the most exciting young teams in the NBA. -- Mike Schmitz

Code: Select all

Physical Comparisons

Isaac Okoro   19 years old   6"6'   225 pounds   6-10 wingspan
Justise Winslow 19 years old  6"6½'    222 pounds   6-10 wingspan
Jaylen Brown   19 years old   6"7'    223 pounds   7-0 wingspan
Andre Iguodala   20 years old   6"7'    217   pounds      6-11 wingspan

[Jamaaliver]

Watch on YouTube

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

[Jamaaliver]

Scouting Report from Jan 2020:

As of late January 2020, Isaac Okoro offers a uniquely well-rounded game with the potential to instantly contribute at the next level on defense. There are no guarantees of dynamic on-ball play or reliable shooting in the immediate future, however, which may limit his potential for “top pick” consideration. Nonetheless, Isaac’s all-around prospects suggest that he may be the best candidate for his archetype: for any team that is intrigued by a heady wing that projects for a high “floor” and sneaky upside, a selection landing as high as the #7-10 range would be warranted.

[birdlives_ma]

Hmm.... I like him a lot in general, but Idk about the fit for us. Cam and Deandre both bring a lot of what he does to the table, but both are better shooters.

I'd much rather target one of the combo guards in this class. Someone who can eventually run the offense when Trae sits, but also play alongside him. Hayes, Haliburton, Maledon, Hampton, etc.

[Jamaaliver]

Yet another Mock Draft linking us to this kid. The video isn't a pro journalist, but it's interesting how frequently we're seeing him mocked to us.

Watch on YouTube

[Jamaaliver]

NBA Draft 2020: How Isaac Okoro could be the next Andre Iguodala

Meet Isaac Okoro, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound freshman wing whose athleticism -- 38-inch vertical leap -- and refined defensive mentality have moved him out of mid-first-round projections and into the lottery, where the Warriors Hawks currently sit.

In seeking a comparison for Okoro, Iguodala is among the names tossed out by NBA scouts and those who specialize in evaluating college talent. Among the other names are Toronto’s OG Anunoby and, at the top end, Jimmy Butler of the Heat and Kawhi Leonard of the Raptors.

Despite having a jump shot that needs repair, Okoro finished his freshman season with a 112.8 offensive rating, ranking second in the SEC.

It’s his defense, though, that excites scouts. He was effective at guarding four positions for the Tigers and displayed a distinct feel for activity all across the floor.

The NBA has evolved into a league of wings and every team covets them, particularly those who can contribute on both ends. It’s a position of need for the Warriors Hawks, and they’ve made apparent their desire to add young players fitting that role.

Okoro fits. He’s the top small forward in some mock drafts, No. 2 on others.

The biggest knock on him, in addition to his inconsistent jumper, is that he is too deferential on offense. Okoro acknowledges he’s not a big scorer, that he’s more of a utility player on offense, a “Swiss-Army-knife” type capable of providing in several areas.

Spoiler:

Isaac Okoro profile

Position: Small forward

Class: Freshman

Birthdate: Jan. 26, 2001 (19)

Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.

2019-20 stats: 12.8 points (51.2 percent FG, 28.6 percent 3p, 67.4 percent FT), 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists.

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 220

Wingspan: 6-9

What they’re saying: "He's an NBA player right now, but if he starts to get to the point where he can see it and make it, then he's an NBA All-Star. He's Victor Oladipo times two." – Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, assessing Okoro’s potential with a reliable jump shot.

NBC Sports

[Ball4life32]

I’d pass on him honestly. Maybe take him if we still had the Nets pick (not that he’d of made it there) He’s more of an undersized 3 that’s a below average shooter, ball handler, passer & rebounder. Just not seeing the upside offensively some see. Defensively sure (and why ppl like him to Atlanta) but that alone isn’t worth a top 5-7 pick imo. Can see him being a solid role player though.

[Jamaaliver]

Okoro's edge for me is his defensive versatility and long-term projection. He's 6-foot-6, 225 and can defend 1-4, with the nimble feet needed to make a defensive impact early. Shooting 29% from 3-point range last season makes me believe the team taking him will be considering a longer view of his prospects, though, despite major defensive potential right away. One scout told me they believe he will be the best wing to come out of this class, but it may not be evident for five years. Remember: he's just 19 years old.

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Atlanta Hawks

Isaac Okoro | 6-6 wing | 18 years old, freshman | Auburn

The Hawks need two things: help on the wing and more defensive talent. Those are the skills they have to put around Trae Young...Now they can do that in the draft by taking Okoro. He makes all of the little plays across the court, including playing great defense both on ball and in a team construct. In fact, I thought he was one of the best defenders across college hoops despite only being 18. He’s great at mirroring opposing perimeter players’ footwork, great in help and extremely smart in rotation.

Really, Okoro is just a winning player. That Auburn won a lot of close games this year isn’t an accident...Okoro helped them manufacture points through effort, athleticism and an incredibly high feel for the game. It’s also not an accident that they looked like a mess when Okoro missed a few games because of injury in February.

I don’t think there’s a better fit for the Hawks, even if I do have some real questions about Okoro’s offense long-term...He shot 29 percent from 3 this year, and has some real mechanical questions that he’s going to have to work out. Offensively, he’ll go as far as the jumper goes. But he is a good driver with strong body control to maneuver around defenders and get to the basket. He also generally takes smart shots and doesn’t play outside of his skills. Okoro will get looks as high as No. 3, depending on who gets the pick, and won’t get out of the lottery.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

The pros and cons for Hawks drafting Isaac Okoro come with a massive unknown



Isaac Okoro is one of college basketball’s most tenacious defenders and is a wing whose frame is NBA ready. He possesses the size, strength and explosion general managers in the NBA covet and is good at finishing at the rim through traffic, but the cloud of his lack of shooting casts a shadow about his potential in the league.

Okoro shot 29 percent from 3-point range and 67 percent from the free-throw line in his one season at Auburn. He shot an abysmal 25.3 percent away from the rim but was one of the NCAA’s most effective scorers when driving to the rim making nearly 70 percent of his attempts.

Okoro was excellent at creating non-3-point looks for himself at Auburn. He finished in the 97th percentile in isolation, according to Synergy, and is one of the best prospects in this draft at slashing to the rim. His ability to cut and get open without the ball are also skills he possesses.

Those are great tools, but it’s not clear how valuable all of that is with the way the Hawks currently play and likely will play for the foreseeable future with Trae Young leading the offense. Offensively, Okoro’s a good player, and he’s improved a lot. He’s going to get that rebound for an extra possession. He’s going to be an efficient passer. He’s going to get to the foul line and score through contact. He’s going to be unselfish. Most importantly, his man is not going to score. He has all of the tools for team defense.

Okoro has an absolutely rare combination of size, speed and strength which makes him one of the best position-less defenders in the draft. As a reminder: Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk was an ardent supporter of the Golden State Warriors drafting Draymond Green, another prospect who had shooting concerns coming out of Michigan State but could guard anyone on the court at a high level and revolutionized the game in his own way.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

If we were going to gamble on a single player in this draft becoming a future star, this is the kid. He has the size, athleticism and intangibles of a really good player.

He just needs to develop a passable stroke from deep and a more consistent mid-range game. He might be more Justise than Kawhi, but he seems like he could develop into something really special.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[HMFFL]

Isaac Okoro signs with rapper Lil Wayne’s sports agency

The Auburn freshman phenom, who declared for the NBA Draft in March, officially signed with rapper Lil Wayne’s sports agency, Young Money APAA Sports, the company announced Friday afternoon. Although Okoro has signed with the agency, he has not yet forfeited his remaining eligibility, according to an NCAA rule change implemented last year.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2020/05/isaac-okoro-signs-with-rapper-lil-waynes-sports-agency.html%3foutputType=amp

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[Jamaaliver]

Isaac Okoro | 6-6 | 215 lb | Shooting Guard/Small Forward

Overall: Okoro is a young prospect coming off a promising Freshman season for a very good Auburn team, putting up averages of 12 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg, and 1 bpg … He is a good athlete with good size and strength, and will be able to play and defend multiple positions at the next level … His defense is currently ahead of his offense at this stage in his development, and he will need to improve upon his shooting and overall effectiveness in a half court offense to reach his potential as a prospect … At the least, he should develop into a prospect who has value as a solid, versatile NBA defender but he could potentially develop into a valuable player if he can stick some open shots and continue to finish well in the paint …

Spoiler:

Strengths: Fits the prototype physically of an NBA small forward with his 6’6 220 lb frame and strong athletic ability, and he uses his size well to compliment his playing style … A good finisher at the rim off 1 or both feet, and is able to convert through contact and with either hand effectively … Has decent length for a wing with a 6’8.5 wingspan and 8’4.5 standing reach … Capable of highlight finishes where he utilizes his great explosiveness and strength to power through contact … A slasher with the ball in his hands, shows good body control, strength and has enough juice in his 1st step off the dribble to get in the lane with effectiveness in the NBA … Moves well without the ball, actively looking to cut and score easy points on the weakside … Is able to defend on the wing and switch to defend against some small ball 4s, doing an great job of containing dribble penetration even against quicker and athletic players in college

Weaknesses: Okoro is a work in progress when it comes to his skill level offensively … Is more effective the closer he is to the rim, and shot a below average 28% from 3 in his Fr season … While his touch is good, his mechanics are inconsistent as he is often affected by closeouts and contests … His mid-range game is poor at the moment, becomes ineffective when his initial driving lanes are cut off … Sometimes is apprehensive about shooting even when there is room, passing up shots or driving into the defense for lower percentage shots … Also struggles from the FT line for a wing prospect, shooting a mediocre 67% in 2019-2020 … Doesn’t have much creativity to his Isolation game, more of a straight line slasher who becomes less effective/more turnover prone the more he dribbles … Somewhat rudimentary as a ball-handler in the half court, though he showed a willingness to create when called upon

NBADraft.net

[King Ken]

I believe he is. The best long term play in the draft for us outside of Edwards.

[King Ken]

If we were going to gamble on a single player in this draft becoming a future star, this is the kid. He has the size, athleticism and intangibles of a really good player.

He just needs to develop a passable stroke from deep and a more consistent mid-range game. He might be more Justise than Kawhi, but he seems like he could develop into something really special.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I've said this on the other site but right now if he was on the Hawks, offensively he wouldn't be decent but he would be better than Bembry even as a rookie due to his movement abilities, BBIQ, feel for the game, and ability to use his strength even as a rookie. This is not even including shooting. Defensively, he is extremely similar to Torrey Craig which I think is a sensational defender. He has the bulk to guard wings which is all that matters even if the height and wingspan are less than ideal as we have seen with Craig.

I don't know if he's a future star but I think he could be a Luol Deng type of wing with better defense to boot. His movement skills are special even for now. He got a lot of potential with shooting being his obvious swing skill.

I don't like the Justise comparison. Winslow doesn't have this movement skills. He didn't have this motor. He didn't have this feel for the game. Winslow had upside as a prospect but his upside shouldn't be confused with Okoro like Leonard's or Iguodala.

[shakes0]

If we were going to gamble on a single player in this draft becoming a future star, this is the kid. He has the size, athleticism and intangibles of a really good player.

He just needs to develop a passable stroke from deep and a more consistent mid-range game. He might be more Justise than Kawhi, but he seems like he could develop into something really special.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I've said this on the other site but right now if he was on the Hawks, offensively he wouldn't be decent but he would be better than Bembry even as a rookie due to his movement abilities, BBIQ, feel for the game, and ability to use his strength even as a rookie. This is not even including shooting. Defensively, he is extremely similar to Torrey Craig which I think is a sensational defender. He has the bulk to guard wings which is all that matters even if the height and wingspan are less than ideal as we have seen with Craig.

I don't know if he's a future star but I think he could be a Luol Deng type of wing with better defense to boot. His movement skills are special even for now. He got a lot of potential with shooting being his obvious swing skill.

I don't like the Justise comparison. Winslow doesn't have this movement skills. He didn't have this motor. He didn't have this feel for the game. Winslow had upside as a prospect but his upside shouldn't be confused with Okoro like Leonard's or Iguodala.

The Deng comparison is odd. Deng was a lot bigger length wise and he was a fantastic mid range offensive player. Okoru doesn't have a midrange game to speak of and is not nearly has long as Deng. They also play different positions.

[King Ken]

If we were going to gamble on a single player in this draft becoming a future star, this is the kid. He has the size, athleticism and intangibles of a really good player.

He just needs to develop a passable stroke from deep and a more consistent mid-range game. He might be more Justise than Kawhi, but he seems like he could develop into something really special.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

I've said this on the other site but right now if he was on the Hawks, offensively he wouldn't be decent but he would be better than Bembry even as a rookie due to his movement abilities, BBIQ, feel for the game, and ability to use his strength even as a rookie. This is not even including shooting. Defensively, he is extremely similar to Torrey Craig which I think is a sensational defender. He has the bulk to guard wings which is all that matters even if the height and wingspan are less than ideal as we have seen with Craig.

I don't know if he's a future star but I think he could be a Luol Deng type of wing with better defense to boot. His movement skills are special even for now. He got a lot of potential with shooting being his obvious swing skill.

I don't like the Justise comparison. Winslow doesn't have this movement skills. He didn't have this motor. He didn't have this feel for the game. Winslow had upside as a prospect but his upside shouldn't be confused with Okoro like Leonard's or Iguodala.

The Deng comparison is odd. Deng was a lot bigger length wise and he was a fantastic mid range offensive player. Okoru doesn't have a midrange game to speak of and is not nearly has long as Deng. They also play different positions.

Not so much a comparison from a physical stance but from an impact stance down the road. Also Okoro is a superior player out of college than Deng was. Please don't compare the finish product of Deng to the prospect which is Okoro.

[shakes0]

Not so much a comparison from a physical stance but from an impact stance down the road. Also Okoro is a superior player out of college than Deng was. Please don't compare the finish product of Deng to the prospect which is Okoro.

How was Okoro a better college player than Deng?


Deng: 15ppg, 7rpg, 48%FG, 36%3FG, 55%TS, 52efg%, 5.6 win shares

Okoro: 12.8ppg, 4.4rpg, 51FG%, 29%3FG, 59TS%, 55efg%, 3.4 win shares


Deng was the better player coming out of college. Don't see that as debatable.