2 goals for Onyeka Okongwu if he’s selected by Cavs in 2020 NBA Draft

Onyeka Okongwu would seem to be well in the mix for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2020 NBA Draft.

With Andre Drummond fully intending to pick up his player option for the 2020-2021 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have their starting 5 for next season. However, while the two have reportedly “shown interest” in it potentially in the timing in late October, no concrete signs for now point to the Cavaliers locking up the two time All-Star long term.

If Cleveland wants to draft their center of the future, James Wiseman would be the name to come up first. Outside of Wiseman, though, USC’s Onyeka Okongwu will be another top big man in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Some big boards and mock drafts such as Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer’s big board value Okongwu over Wiseman.

The 6-foot-9 big put together a 16.2 point, 8.6 rebound and 2.7-block average in his lone collegiate season with the Trojans. From a Cavs fan’s perspective, Okongwu would seemingly be a player that’d be in the mix for Cleveland in the 2020 NBA Draft.

With Okongwu being a realistic option for the Cleveland Cavaliers, we’ll emphasize two goals for him if he’s selected by them.

The first has to do with him being a regular contributor, and more so as 2020-21 progresses.

Goal #1: Earn more and more playing time for the Cleveland Cavaliers

If Okongwu finds his way to Cleveland, he won’t be starting right away. Okongwu will have to earn all his minutes on the floor. Drummond is an All-Star-caliber talent and won’t lose his minutes easily.

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Albeit by seasons’ end, Okongwu should hope to give Cavaliers head coach J.B Bickerstaff no choice but to give him more than his original minutes from likely early on.

This would include Okongwu gradually improving his numbers, affecting games more in raw areas such as passing, being a productive screener and fitting in with previously drafted players such as Kevin Porter Jr. and Collin Sexton.

If Okongwu doesn’t want to sit on the bench primarily during his rookie season and at least get meaningful minutes at the 5 likely, he’ll have to do something about it when he’s able to play a considerable amount. Being a go-to post/interior option off the bench wouldn’t hurt his case.

The second goal for Okongwu has to do with his best strength as a prospect heading into the 2020 NBA Draft.

Goal #2: Be an impact defender for the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are a bottom of the barrel team on defense, as they had the NBA’s second-worst defensive rating in 2019-20. Okongwu brings youth, athleticism, length and size to the defense for Bickerstaff and company.

A  2.7 block average in college would be a selling point for any team considering Okongwu, as it would appear for now that the Cavs are. Okongwu’s 1.2 steals per outing were noteworthy, too, and his instincts are particularly impressive.

Time should allow for Okongwu to potentially get stronger/thicker and become the paint protector/shot blocker every NBA team wants.

A combination of size, blocking ability and athleticism offer Okongwu the chance to improve the Cavaliers defense. Any improvement in the Cavaliers defense will be greatly valued and noticed, too. Let’s take into account that Okongwu is a very capable player in switchout situations on to perimeter players defensively as well, which could really lead to him being an impact defender even early on.

Okongwu is also an interesting story headed into the 2020 NBA Draft. A former teammate of LaMelo Ball, a 2020 prospect himself, at Chino Hills High, a Bam Adebayo comparison thanks to at least promising passing traits, and a top ten pick projection make the big man notable.

If Oknogwu can achieve these goals to begin his career with Cleveland if they were to select him, they will have found their long term 5. The production should come if he gets the chances.