Prospect Thread: Issac Okoro

[amcoolio]

There is now buzz of him going top 5 and we haven't discussed him yet.

Thoughts?

I like him but he is definitely a project player. I like the way he carries himself on the court and he has that "Heat Culture" aura about him.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

MKG 2.0

MINUSES
Stiff shooter with clunky mechanics—defenses already sag off him. He brings the ball to his shot pocket too soon, ruining the timing of his release.
Nonfactor off the dribble.
Subpar free throw shooter, which doesn’t provide much optimism for the development of his jumper.
Lacks burst and quickness on drives to the rim, so his flashes of shot-creating ability may never translate to the NBA.

[James Gatz]

I don't think that is quite a fair comparison. Okoro jumpshot isn't broken, but it's not good. He also has some secondary creation upside due to his handle. Gets to the line a ton, but can't hit free throws. He'll be a great on man defender but I do worry about his length only like 6'8.5 wingspan.

[Braggins]

Spencer Pearlman likes him and compared him to Jimmy Butler.

[UNCNYC]

I think Desmond Bane is a better prospect with the husky build and strong game, but bane is a better shooter and he might fall to us at 32. I rather stay clear

[BigSlam]

Spencer Pearlman likes him and compared him to Jimmy Butler.

I have no idea, but that kind of sounds like recency bias to me - in the same way people are saying OO compares to Adebayo ............because Butler and Adebayo are the "cool" players of the moment and everyone wants someone like them.

[yosemiteben]

Spencer Pearlman likes him and compared him to Jimmy Butler.

I have no idea, but that kind of sounds like recency bias to me - in the same way people are saying OO compares to Adebayo ............because Butler and Adebayo are the "cool" players of the moment and everyone wants someone like them.

I mean, Bam objectively did have nearly identical college performance, impact, and body type. I don't understand saying it's a stretch or recency bias to compare the two at the same stage.

[SWedd523]

Spencer Pearlman likes him and compared him to Jimmy Butler.

I have no idea, but that kind of sounds like recency bias to me - in the same way people are saying OO compares to Adebayo ............because Butler and Adebayo are the "cool" players of the moment and everyone wants someone like them.

My issue is that people go after "traditional" bigs that don't jack threes or play PG because the NBA has "grown past that", but seem okay with a lead guard or wing who can't shoot either.

I'm missing something.

In a league where spacing is key and you need perimeter guys to pour it in from range, where does Okoro fit?

The only top end players (non bigs) that immediately come to mind are Giannis, Westbrook, and Ben Simmons.

Giannis: one of the most physically gifted players of all time
Westbrook: one of the most physically gifted players of all time
Simmons: also super gifted physically (for a PG), and yet people are already saying he's not a championship centerpiece

To bite off on a broken jumper, you seriously need to be banking on that guy being supremely gifted everywhere else or a generational/dominant athlete.

I definitely don't see that with this guy

[wilson115]

Spencer Pearlman likes him and compared him to Jimmy Butler.

He's banking on Okoro's athleticism and driving skills outweighing his shooting or lack thereof. Reminds of Malik in Miles's body. Unlike Malik (and to many Anthony Edwards) no one's knocking Okoro's attitude. I can see the Jimmy comparison.

https://player.fm/series/game-theory-podcast-1336086/lakers-take-3-1-lead-why-lamelo-at-no-1-nba-draft-wings-deep-dive-with-spencer-pearlman

Watch on YouTube

[DY_nasty]

Spencer Pearlman likes him and compared him to Jimmy Butler.

I have no idea, but that kind of sounds like recency bias to me - in the same way people are saying OO compares to Adebayo ............because Butler and Adebayo are the "cool" players of the moment and everyone wants someone like them.

My issue is that people go after "traditional" bigs that don't jack threes or play PG because the NBA has "grown past that", but seem okay with a lead guard or wing who can't shoot either.

I'm missing something.

In a league where spacing is key and you need perimeter guys to pour it in from range, where does Okoro fit?

The only top end players (non bigs) that immediately come to mind are Giannis, Westbrook, and Ben Simmons.

Giannis: one of the most physically gifted players of all time
Westbrook: one of the most physically gifted players of all time
Simmons: also super gifted physically (for a PG), and yet people are already saying he's not a championship centerpiece

To bite off on a broken jumper, you seriously need to be banking on that guy being supremely gifted everywhere else or a generational/dominant athlete.

I definitely don't see that with this guy

preach

[luciano-davidwesley]

He seems like a massive reach at pick 3. Surely we'd only entertain drafting him if we traded down.

[James Gatz]

He seems like a massive reach at pick 3. Surely we'd only entertain drafting him if we traded down.

Yeah I doubt he's in the conversation for us.

It's likely

Wiseman, Ball, Edwards, Deni, Toppin, and maybe Okongwu/Hayes

[luciano-davidwesley]

He seems like a massive reach at pick 3. Surely we'd only entertain drafting him if we traded down.

Yeah I doubt he's in the conversation for us.

It's likely

Wiseman, Ball, Edwards, Deni, Toppin, and maybe Okongwu/Hayes

Take out Toppin and I agree with that short list.

[James Gatz]

He seems like a massive reach at pick 3. Surely we'd only entertain drafting him if we traded down.

Yeah I doubt he's in the conversation for us.

It's likely

Wiseman, Ball, Edwards, Deni, Toppin, and maybe Okongwu/Hayes

Take out Toppin and I agree with that short list.

I don't want Toppin at all. I feel like he's just one of the guys I wouldn't be shocked if we pick.