Cavs gift #2: Isaac Okoro steadily becoming more comfortable in set offense
Isaac Okoro will be an impact Cavs rookie, and got the Opening Night start for Cleveland on Wednesday. Okoro was Cleveland’s 2020 NBA Draft selection, and that could end up being a big-time pick it seems.
Anyhow, while what clearly jumps out from Okoro is his defensive abilities, firstly, of which should play into him being Cleveland’s long-term starting 3 over Cedi Osman, I believe he’ll get more and more comfortable in settled offense as his rookie year progresses.
Okoro made some plays in that way in Cleveland’s first regular season outing versus Charlotte, in which he had 11 points and five assists, and in preseason did, too. Plus, he hit 45.5 percent of his three-point attempts in preseason. Now, I wouldn’t expect Okoro to be labeled as a sniper, this season.
He hit only 28.6 percent of his three-point attempts in his lone collegiate season at Auburn, and as our Zane Harris pointed out, Okoro needs to show more of that viability from deep as his season wears on.
Nonetheless, I firmly believe we’ll see Okoro grow more comfortable overall offensively in settled offense, and alongside guys like Garland, Sexton, Love, Andre Drummond, Kevin Porter Jr. and others. I’d expect his cutting timing, and driving abilities to steadily be more involved in the offense, and for his offensive production to come along.