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

Potential Cleveland Cavaliers lineup #3 involving Okongwu: Sexton-Porter-Cedi Osman-Okongwu-Drummond

The Cleveland Cavaliers are unfortunately presently lacking in the two-way, defensive-minded player area. The draft selection of Okungwu at the very least brings a unique defensive-minded player that fits in a bevy of lineups because of how all-around his game actually is, when factoring in his switchability, team defensive feel and post/finishing polish offensively.

Collin Sexton is an improving defender, albeit mostly grades out to be poor in that area. He presently is likely the Cavaliers’ best option for success in this lineup given how strong his scoring ability is and continues to be. Collin is deceivingly long and incredibly bouncy for his height (listed at 6-foot-1) and thus theoretically would fit great in a bigger, athletic and defensive-first lineup such as this one.

Porter Jr. is more of the same in a sense and continues to project to be a solid two-way player in the NBA.

He has every tool to be an impressive and solid defender, and it truly is a matter of him simply putting it together on that end of the floor as well on a consistent basis. His 1.4 steals per-36 minutes as a rookie were promising, though, but similarly to Collin, he too should thrive in a bigger, athletic lineup like this one.

Cedi Osman is not necessarily ever going to be an elite defender in the NBA, that’s obvious, but he is still growing in that area nonetheless in his young career.

The presence of big men like Okongwu and Drummond down low should also thoroughly help Cedi and could allow him to blossom into a capable two-way player in the NBA. Osman could help in this lineup as a capable secondary playmaker and floor spacer, too, as he hit 38.3 percent of his deep attempts in his third season.

Okongwu and Drummond as a frontcourt would be the preferred defensive lineup decision simply because of how versatile Okongwu presents to be as an overall player on both ends of the floor and how capable Drummond has been as an interior defensive presence in the past and in his overall career, with 1.6 blocks per game.

Additonally, Drummond has great instincts in playing passing lanes, and pre-novel coronavirus-induced hiatus, was actually second in the NBA in total steals.

In the situation that the Cleveland Cavaliers opt to select Onyeka Okongwu with their selection in the 2020 NBA Draft, he almost certainly will make an immediate impact in any lineup he is utilized in and would likely create a massive defensive impact on a lineup such as this one.