A nice option for the 1,2 and 3 spots for the Cleveland Cavaliers in stretches would consist of Kevin Porter Jr., Dylan Windler and potentially Isaac Okoro.
For Cleveland Cavaliers fans, looking ahead to the 2020-21 campaign and the 2020 NBA Draft is what seems relevant. The Cavs were not one of the top 22 clubs invited to Orlando, but on the plus side, it was at least nice to see Cleveland close out with some momentum.
Heading into the season’s novel coronavirus induced-hiatus, the Cavs did look re-energized post-All-Star break after J.B. Bickerstaff took over the head coaching reigns. Cleveland was a more respectable 5-6 in what would ultimately be their last 11 games of 2019-20.
Granted, Cleveland could reportedly end up having four more Summer League-type games in September via second “bubble” location in Chicago, but that’s seemingly anything but a certainty due to COVID-19. I wouldn’t imagine those games, given the style of them, would affect the lottery, though I can’t say for certain.
Nonetheless, looking to the draft/next season is what Cavs fans are more so focused on now. When it comes to the draft, I personally would prefer Cleveland focus on the defensive end of the floor, and with pieces that have some pick-and-roll coverage versatility. To that, I lean to USC Trojans big Onyeka Okongwu, but also, and I’ll point out in this case, Auburn Tigers wing Isaac Okoro.
Okoro is a player that is capable of playing the 2 and 3, and I believe he could, even fairly early on next season, be a better starting option at the 3.
Cedi Osman is a much better shooter at this point, but Okoro is more capable as a driving threat, and could end up being more capable as a secondary playmaker. He has a better handle and could collapse defenses more to hit kick-outs with him being quicker.
Additionally, Okoro has a very high ceiling defensively, and had 0.9 steals and even 0.9 blocks per contest in his lone collegiate season. In terms of on-ball, he can matchup 1-3 seamlessly and defend some 4’s, as The Stepien’s Spencer Pearlman hit on, which makes him so intriguing as a 2020 NBA Draft prospect.
With the variety of ways he could help the Cavs, I firmly believe his presence could aid the likes of Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Kevin Love, and others, such as Kevin Porter Jr. and Dylan Windler.
Playing off that, those last two in Porter and Windler with Okoro would form a quality trio in stretches for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Porter made a lasting impression in his first season as he had 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.9 steals in 23.2 minutes per game.
In this case, though, with KPJ showing encouraging passing feel and with his tight handle, he could be a nice primary playmaking option for stretches at the 1 for Cleveland, and his driving presence could help out Windler and Okoro.
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Shortly after taking over as Cavs head coach, Bickerstaff did mention how he wanted to see Porter at the 1 occasionally in what was set to be the last chunk of the season, but we didn’t get to see that.
In 2020-21, however, I firmly believe we will, and KPJ showed more positive passing signs leading into the hiatus, as he had an assist rate of 17.1 percent in his last 12 games active.
Factoring in that from Porter, Windler, a potential knockdown shooter that hit 40.6 percent of his three-point attempts in a four-year career at Belmont, and Okoro, a high quality driver, finisher and cutter, would both benefit considerably in stretches.
Those two other pieces in Windler and Okoro have good secondary playmaking instincts, too, though, and could get Porter his share of nice looks as a shooter and/or cutter after drawing opposing rotators and/or initiating ball-swings.
While Porter did only hit 33.5 percent of his three-point attempts as a rookie, he did 40.7 percent of his catch-and-shoot three-point attempts, per NBA.com’s tracking data.
So with that being the case, with willing and able secondary playmakers in Windler and Okoro on the floor feasibly in for stretches with him, to give the likes of Darius Garland and some Collin Sexton a breather, I’d again expect KPJ to get his share of catch-and-shoot looks.
Porter is more than capable of knocking those down, too, and if hard closeouts come to him, he could make an extra pass to perhaps Windler on the wing after an Okoro drive-and-kick or maybe even give it back to Windler after relocation. Windler is effective in that regard off of movement as well.
Lets also not dismiss that all three of these players help out as defensive rebounders, also, which could make a difference in the grab-and-go transition game, and with Larry Nance Jr. as a dive threat in secondary transition to help. In that area, Windler and Porter could initiate and be key shooters if the matchup presents itself, and Okoro, who excels in the open floor, could attack and get his share of free throw chances, or hit Windler/Porter.
Now, when it comes to the defensive end, admittedly, Porter does need to improve in the off-screen sense, and at times does overextend a bit. For a young player, though, more experience for him should aid him there, and while I have questions about Windler on-ball, he I believe would be competent in the team sense.
His timing did lead to weak side blocks and his share of steals at Belmont, of which he had 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per outing in four seasons there, and with productive ball pressure from the likes of Porter and Okoro, that could help Windler in these stretches.
Moreover, if the Cleveland Cavaliers ended up selecting Okoro in the 2020 NBA Draft, Okoro, Porter and Windler could definitely make for a quality trio in stretches for the Wine and Gold. That could be a different wrinkle in some rest minutes for Garland/Sexton, with Nance and/or Kevin Love with them, realistically.
Now Garland/Sexton could and would obviously be mixed in with KPJ/Windler/Okoro, but those three pieces in stretches could bring a nice mix of on/off-ball play that’d jump out to me. I’d expect their chemistry to only get better as the season progresses, too.
That’s assuming Windler can be mostly healthy. Though he did not play in 2019-20 due to complications regarding a stress reaction in his left leg, he is reportedly progressing well in his rehab and I believe should be ready to roll. He’ll take some time to adjust, sure, but I think he’ll be just fine early on.
If Okoro is drafted by the Cavs, I again would expect him, KPJ and Windler to be a quality trio in stretches, too, in particular with their varied skill sets.