Isaac Okoro is a ready-made defender. But how should the Cleveland Cavaliers use him offensively?
The Cleveland Cavaliers seemingly mixed up a couple draft boards Wednesday by selecting Auburn’s Isaac Okoro. The 6-foot-6 wing played one year for the Tigers and was a key part of Auburn’s success.
By taking Okoro, the Cavaliers added a defensive wing that can guard 1-4, but Okoro has development ahead offensively.
That being said, Okoro still has some offensive capabilities, and he’ll be able to affect games still on that end, albeit the shot does need to come along.
So how should Cleveland use the Auburn product on that end of the floor predominantly, then?
Here, I’ll highlight the three best ways for the Cavs to utilize Okoro offensively.
The first relates to being able to take advantage of his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame getting downhill.
#1: The Cavs should use Okoro plenty as a driver
The Cavaliers were second-to-last in free throws per game last year, but Okoro’s slashing and aggressive nature can change that number. He had a healthy 4.8 free throw attempts per outing in his lone collegiate season, and that should translate to him getting his share of opportunities in that realm.
Okoro’s strength and being able to change speeds enables him to finish well in those instances with both power and good touch with both hands. That played into Okoro hitting 60.7 percent of his two-point attempts in 2019-20.
Overall, it’s clear that the Cavs’ newest addition will drive to the rim often when he’s on the floor, and score one way or another, and in transition, he’ll be especially difficult to handle. Okoro placed in the 80th percentile in transition scoring, per Synergy Sports, so that will be something to watch with him, too.
Secondly, Okoro is a willing and able playmaker.
#2: The Cavs should use Okoro as a secondary playmaker
Okoro’s bag of offensive skills includes more than just driving to the rim. It appears Cleveland has themselves a solid secondary playmaker. Okoro’s playmaking will include passing and initiating on-ball, inserting a player that can make things happen for himself, but more so others, such as Collin Sexton, Kevin Porter Jr. and Kevin Love in this sense.
Finding other capable playmakers, in this sense as a secondary playmaker on the wing, aside from Garland and Porter Jr., to go with Love in some respects in terms of bigs, will be crucial. And Okoro’s skills are welcomed for a young team still searching for an offensive identity.
While the volume wasn’t a ton, Okoro’s playmaking as a pick-and-roll initiator in spraying out to shooters at Auburn was encouraging for coming years, too.
Lastly, Okoro should be used often as a cutter in his minutes-share by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
#3: Okoro should be utilized as a cutter by the Cavs
It’s no secret that Isaac Okoro has work to do as a shooter. Okoro hit only 28.6 percent of his three-point attempts, and just 67.2 percent of his free throw attempts, which were both alarming clips. Thankfully, Okoro is a very diligent worker, similarly to Cavs such as Collin Sexton and Larry Nance Jr., who’ve made considerable strides as shooters.
But on the plus side for the Cavs, Okoro has impressive feel as a cutter, and he should be used a bunch in that way. Okoro times his baseline and diagonal cuts particulary well, and in the transition game, he’s so polished as a cutting finisher and even lob threat, also, which should lead to buckets for him.
Albeit in settled offense, with Garland and Windler being quality passers, they could get him looks over-the-top on the weak side as a cutter/lob threat, too, which should pay off for Cleveland.
Anyway, it’s evident that Isaac Okoro has a widely regarded defensive skill in him.
However, Cleveland owes it to their #5 pick to find a way to progress his skills and make him a more polished scorer, though, and as a shooter, in particular. But in the meantime, the Cavs must utilize what’s there offensively to work with and allow him to play to his strengths on that end still as the shooting hopefully comes along.