Prospect Spotlight -- Isaac Okoro

[Spud2nique]

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I was really high on him then a bit low due to his shooting but I think he can improve on that. He’s got crazy ability to defend the perimeter. If you combine his quickness and his size with that D, he’s pretty special. Plus he’s an Atlanta dude. Yes.

[Jamaaliver]

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One of the more elite defensive wing prospects to come out in recent years, there are quite a lot of things to like about Okoro’s game from an NBA perspective. Okoro’s calling card, and the main reason why he’s going to be drafted as high as he is, is his defensive prowess. For starters, his motor is constantly running; Okoro is extremely active on defense and never shows a lack of hustle, and in combination with his terrific basketball IQ, it’s no surprise that he’s an outstanding off-ball defender.

Okoro might be even better as an on-ball defender. His big 6’6, 225-pound frame in conjunction with outlier functional strength permits him to stifle any player who tries to get past him. His rotations are spot on and he blocks a lot of shots from the weak side for someone his size, as is indicated by his 3.1 BLK%. The idea that team defense is more important than on-ball defense has become a lot more popular in recent years, and it’s an area that Okoro excels in.

Perhaps the most underrated facet of Okoro’s game is his playmaking ability. His box score line certainly won’t wow you; he had just 57 assists to 55 turnovers this season, numbers which may even paint playmaking as a mild concern. However, if you watch him play on offense, you’ll notice his standout passing ability for a wing. Another area where is IQ shines through, Okoro is capable of making some surprisingly advanced reads and is terrific at playing within the flow of the offense.

Speaking on Okoro’s offensive upside, we also have to take his finishing capabilities into account. We already talked about his activity on defense, but he’s also very active as a cutter and slasher on offense – and once he gets to the basket, he’s very difficult to stop. The aforementioned functional strength plays a significant role in this department, as does his superior athleticism in other areas; Okoro is an extraordinarily explosive athlete as a leaper (19 dunks) as well. However, most intriguing is his ability to finish through both traffic and contact.

the most glaring weakness in Okoro’s game is more important than ever: his outside shot. He converted on just 28.6% of his 70 three-point attempts and 67.2% of his free throws. His form isn’t exactly promising, either, and quite a few people have already written him off as a non-shooter at the next level. Even for defensive savants, it’s hard to survive in the modern NBA without a reliable outside shot, especially in the playoffs.

However, not all hope is lost for Okoro. His touch at the rim certainly bodes well for any future shooting development, and it helps that he’s good at just about everything else. While his shooting remains perhaps the biggest swing skill in this class, there are still avenues for him to stick in the league without it.


2020 NBA Draft Comparison: Andre Iguodala

[Jamaaliver]

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[Spud2nique]

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Usually I hate guys that can’t shoot but Okoro is the exception. This kid is a modern day Alvin Robertson to me and a more modern Iggy type. Iggy learned how to shoot from being around the splash idiots, I think Okoro will do the same being around Trae and Huerter.

Okongwu is still first by far in my eyes if he’s on the board, if not Okoro has possibly leapfrogged Haliburton for me.

[Jamaaliver]

Rookies Drafted by the Wrong NBA Team

Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers



Isaac Okoro's IQ, defensive toughness and competitiveness can carry right over in a supporting role, the way they did for Marcus Smart in Boston. Before the draft, it seemed easy to picture him as a similarly impactful player for a playoff team.

Instead, Okoro's NBA-ready package of off-ball skills and intangibles may now go wasted in Cleveland.

It's understandable why the Cavaliers thought he was the right pick at No. 5 overall. They have scoring weapons in Collin Sexton and Kevin Love and a need for a glue guy and defensive presence.

Unfortunately for Okoro, he won't bring enough to move the needle for a roster run by Darius Garland, with an aging Love and Andre Drummond likely to get traded on the final year of his deal. And there isn't a clear path toward serious playoff contention for Cleveland anytime soon.

Had Okoro slipped one more spot to the Atlanta Hawks, he could have been a difference-maker for a rising team in the East that now has multiple offensive standouts in Trae Young, John Collins, Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Bleacher Report

[Spud2nique]

He looked good last night. Really good.

[tbhawksfan1]

He looked good last night. Really good.

He was my #2 behind Okongwu. He's a pure physical specimen

[Spud2nique]

He looked good last night. Really good.

He was my #2 behind Okongwu. He's a pure physical specimen

I had him as #3 behind Okongwu and Hali. Truthfully him and Hali were tied for 2nd.