Cavs: Best-case scenario for Isaac Okoro’s rookie year if he’s CLE pick

If Isaac Okoro was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, what would be the best-case scenario for his rookie season?

Isaac Okoro is a projected top 10 pick, and is a 6-foot-6 wing that played one year collegiately at Auburn.

Okoro finished with 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per outing. He’s a gritty and tough player that can help complement any team. This impressive season earned him All-SEC Second Team honors, while also being on the SEC’s All Defense and freshman teams.

The Cleveland Cavaliers currently have loads of potential at the guard positions, while also having plenty of expensive veteran depth up front, also considering if Andre Drummond were to pick up his $28.7 million player option for next season, and at least stick around for a good chunk.

What the Cavs currently need, though, the most is a solid wing who can defend. On paper, Okoro makes for a great fit for the Cavaliers’ current roster.

So, what would be the best-case scenario for him?

Okoro firmly establishing himself as the Cavs starting 3 and being a crucial piece looking onward would seem to be that.

Again, Okoro becoming Cleveland’s legitimate starting 3 who looks to be perhaps the final piece the Cavaliers need to be relevant again, when projecting onward past next season, seems like it. That’s when weighing in a loaded draft class, but Okoro could feasibly help Cleveland be much more competitive game-to-game even before that.

Suggesting offensive output for his first year is tough to suggest definitively, but Okoro establishing himself as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ best defender who can help guard multiple positions night-in and night-out would be particularly noteworthy in year 1.

Nonetheless, even though the Cavaliers are fairly weak at the small forward position, earning the starting role isn’t a given. Kevin Porter Jr. could continue to see minutes there especially if Darius Garland and Collin Sexton get significant playing time together, for instance.

But, excluding different potential lineups, two players that come to mind that could be in the mix for starting small forward are Cedi Osman and Dylan Windler.

Cedi is established there and has manned that spot the past two seasons, and Windler also complements the team with his offensive capabilities, provided he can be healthy next season. And he very well should be, factoring in how Windler participated in Cleveland’s in-market bubble team workouts, and made a splash in those, too.

In any case, Okoro eventually earning the starting role because of his defensive capabilities and ability to help complement smaller lineups is likely but not guaranteed.

Finding his role offensively could be tricky as he is still very raw on that side of the floor from a shooting sense, however, Okoro could help Cleveland from a playmaking standpoint. Making extra effort plays and being able to give important baskets when the other players need help seems reasonable to expect from him, and Okoro’s elite finishing abilities should play into that.

To be clear, though, Okoro won’t be a key scoring option his rookie year but could be a valuable transition player, cutter and could find lanes to the basket when the attention is on others. That’s something he found success with during his freshman season.

Even with him being somewhat raw as a scorer, he is 19 and filled with potential. I don’t see him fully blossoming this first season, but his defense and abilities in the open floor can take this team to a level they haven’t experienced in two years and can help shift the momentum in games.

Okoro could help the Cavaliers be more competent in games, thanks in large part to his defensive acumen, competitiveness, secondary playmaking feel, athleticism and finishing prowess.

To me, the best-case scenario for Isaac Okoro will be better represented in the Cavaliers win total. He might not explode on the basic box score, but he could be one of the most important players on the roster should he be chosen by Cleveland come the draft on Wednesday.