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Cavs 2020 Draft: Two realistic expectations for Isaac Okoro if he’s the pick

By Robbie DiPaola

Auburn Tigers wing Isaac Okoro jumps for a layup. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Auburn Tigers wing Isaac Okoro jumps for a layup. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
Auburn Tigers forward Isaac Okoro blocks a shot. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

#1: Okoro is an impact defender for the Cavs right away, but takes time offensively to come along as a key player

The first expectation for Okoro is to come into the league ready to go on the defensive end, but do not expect him to be a go-to offensive player right away.

As mentioned earlier, Okoro is known for his defense as he allowed 0.48 points per one-on-one possession as a freshman at Auburn, which ranked in the 90th percentile, per Synergy Sports and as h/t NBA.com. At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, he will come into the NBA with the necessary size and strength to compete on the defensive end right away.

However, one realistic expectation for Okoro again should be to focus on defense first and let the offensive end of the floor come along during the season.

Despite being just 19 years old, Okoro already shows great basketball IQ and can guard multiple positions. In his one season at Auburn, Okoro displayed plenty of sudden quickness and the ability to rotate well and take charges, too, along with coming up with blocks from as a rotator.

While Okoro is not a finished product on the defensive side of the ball, it would be better to expect him to help on that side of the floor more and let players such as Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr. handle the load more on offense. Kevin Love would qualify in that realm as well, clearly.

But Okoro can help turn defense into offense as he showed the capability to play passing lanes and come up with steals, leading to the second expectation for him.