3 potential lineups that the Cavs could use involving Isaac Okoro

Isaac Okoro could make an impact in a number of ways in coming years for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Despite what many may say, this year’s NBA Draft has a ton of gems and there are a multitude of directions the Cleveland Cavaliers could go in at least at their selection. With the new draft lottery odds in mind, the Cavaliers have a higher chance at falling to the fifth-sixth pick then they do at ending up with a top three pick. The interesting part about that is that in a draft like this year’s, it may be better for them to fall.

If the Cavaliers are to fall in this 2020 NBA Draft, a player they should look at is Isaac Okoro out of Auburn. Okoro had an intriguing season for the Tigers this year, averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game and shot 51.4 percent from the field.

Okoro was also the only freshman to play over 800 minutes this past season, helped lead his team to a 25-6 record, including a 15-0 start, and will become the first Auburn Tiger to be a one-and-done.

Though they may not pop out in his statistics, Okoro’s main selling point is his defense, as KJG’s Dan Gilinsky alluded to. At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Okoro has the size, strength and athleticism to defend point guards to power forwards, depending on the matchup.

His defensive prowess makes him an intriguing prospect but his offensive potential shouldn’t be overlooked, which should include secondary playmaking ability, as KJG’s Grant Puskar previously stressed.

Okoro only shot 28.6 percent from three-point land and 67.2 percent from the free throw line but, has shown a pretty nice handle and has some potential as an isolation player. His strong frame and athleticism will help him to finish well around the rim and he is seen as a good pick-and-roll passer.

The Cavaliers have shown the ability to improve a player’s shooting as players such as Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Kevin Porter Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. (via spot-up triples) have surprised many with how good they have been able to shoot the ball with the Cavs. In Porter’s case, that was at least seen in spurts as a rookie and especially with how he shot 40.7 percent on catch-and-shoot three-pointers, per NBA.com’s shot tracking data.

If Okoro hits his ceiling, he compares to be similar to a Jaylen Brown, who he has seemingly shown shades of to draft pundits, as KJG’s own Billy Beebe hit on. That’s possible down the road, with him having a strong impact on both ends of the floor, as well as being efficient while doing so. If the Cavs are to select Okoro in the 2020 NBA Draft, he should make his presence felt early on in games in a number of ways.

Here, we will look at three potential lineups that we could see next year for the Cleveland Cavaliers that would involve Isaac Okoro.

We’ll get right into that now.