Cavs: 3 potential lineups involving 2020 NBA Draft prospect Onyeka Okongwu

Cleveland Cavaliers potential lineup #1 involving Okongwu: Darius Garland-Porter-Alfonzo McKinnie-Larry Nance Jr.-Okongwu

This lineup, which is predicated on athleticism and would feature plenty of pieces that are above-the-rim-level type players, could easily work quite well for a number of reasons this upcoming season. That’s again if the Cavaliers do indeed select Onyeka Okongwu with their first-round selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Darius Garland, despite by advanced statistics being already largely deemed a bad player, is a gifted young facilitator and creator in both the pick-and-roll and in transition.

Garland has great touch and showcased that at times, even with his struggles to open up the season, and for context, his prior meniscus injury in college at Vanderbilt did reportedly play into his struggles and/or seemingly a lack of scoring aggression.

He hypothetically will continue to have potential to fit great as both an on-ball and off-ball player in this potential lineup as well next to fellow second-year player, Kevin Porter Jr.

He is just as capable next to Garland in this particular backcourt and lineup because of how much of a high flyer and dynamic playmaker, to go with shot creator/driver he is.

Alfonzo McKinnie probably comes off as a unique decision to incorporate into this lineup but he is really just a solid role player at this moment that fits decently well enough, and is a good finisher/cutter.

McKinnie is capable of living above the rim at times and defending the perimeter at a competent enough level to where he can fit well here, even with the fact that he almost certainly must improve his three-point shooting percentage to do so.

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He is coming off a career-low 21.5 percent from there, although he averaged a 35.6 percent hit rate from deep as a member of the Golden State Warriors. Granted, that was a different situation, but it could pay off for him to be more efficient from the corner, at least.

Larry Nance Jr.’s inclusion in this particular lineup suggestion likely need not be explained, given there is a legitimate argument that he was robbed in the 2018 NBA Dunk Contest by Donovan Mitchell, and that he is truly one of the best dunkers in the entire world.

Plus, Nance is fresh off a career-high in points per game with 10.1 in 2019-20, and he is becoming a well-rounded offensive player, and hit a career-best 35.2 percent from three-point range this now-past season for the Cavs.

Meanwhile, Onkeya Okongwu will fit in many lineups going forward depending on the team that selects him, and in the scenario that that team is indeed the Cleveland Cavaliers, he absolutely fits great next to fellow dynamic athletes.

Okongwu projects to be a solid passer in the NBA, similar to Bam Adebayo on the Heat this past season as well mentioned, and thus his playmaking and all-around ability allows him to mesh really well in this particular potential lineup.

Okongwu in the NBA should have a different level of passing metrics, and with feasibly more opportunity to do so, his 1.1-2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio in college won’t be indicative of his passing feel. Garland, KPJ and Nance as spot-up threats would help in that regard, too.