Cavs: 2020 NBA Draft prospect Onyeka Okongwu could complement Larry Nance Jr., Kevin Love very well

From my perspective, Onyeka Okongwu should be a 2020 NBA Draft prospect that’s firmly on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ radar.

At this point, the Cleveland Cavaliers are slated to have the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and while that was maybe disappointing to some, Cleveland should land a quality contributor.

In terms of prospects that would seem to be in-play for the Wine and Gold, wings such as Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, Florida State’s Devin Vassell and Deni Avdija of the I-BSL’s Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv are seemingly in the conversation. Guards such as Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton and Killian Hayes of the BBL’s Ratiopharm Ulm could potentially be as well, though that does seem less likely.

While the defensive question marks scare me, the Cavs are rumored to be high on Dayton big Obi Toppin, although Avdija is in that realm as seemingly highly touted by Cleveland, too. That’s per a report earlier this month from The Athletic‘s Sam Vecenie (subscription required), albeit Avdija I’d be on-board with.

As a quick note, I do frankly believe they will ultimately keep the pick, even while a report from Sports Illustrated‘s Sam Amico noted the “Cavs very well could move the pick in a package,” they’d be in the right in taking it.

To me, from the defensive perspective, in particular, the Cavaliers could land a high quality player for coming years in that realm, such as the wings mentioned, especially, and if the Cavs ended up going with a big at that #5 spot, a player I’d be a big fan of is USC’s Onyeka Okongwu.

Okongwu, even as a 6-foot-9 and 245-pound 4/5, is very switchable, and if the Cavaliers can communicate through off-ball, that could aid them throughout games if needed.

And Okongwu, who had 2.7 blocks per game in his lone collegiate season, has outstanding team defensive instincts and would project as a rim protection presence. He is active in passing lanes, too, as evidenced by his 1.2 steals per game, and he could create his share of live-ball turnovers.

On the offensive end/as a rebounder, Okongwu is a polished post player, and despite the numbers not showing it, has great passing feel for a big, to go with being an active roller/screener. Okongwu had 16.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest at USC in 2019-20, and to me, he could mesh with Larry Nance Jr. and Kevin Love very well.

Here, we’ll hit on how Okongwu could greatly complement Nance/Love in terms of as a frontcourt duo if the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted the USC product.

First, we’ll look at how Okongwu could fit with Nance in stretches on the floor together.