Cavs: Four reasonable predictions for the 2021-22 season

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Cleveland Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro looks to make a play. (Photo by Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports) /

Cavs 2021-22 prediction #2: Okoro is relegated to the bench

I have a feeling that I’ll get some backlash for this, but it’s something I’ve thought since the Cavs drafted Okoro in 2020. Okoro has looked okay seemingly in training camp and the preseason. His defensive ability is something that never needs to be questioned. He gives 100 percent and will eventually be one of the better defenders in the NBA. However, the only problem with that is that the Cavs as a team are not a very good defensive team.

So, if Okoro is the only guy on the wing putting constant pressure on the ball-handler, that means guys like Sexton and Garland need to pick up their defense as well, which I don’t see them doing until later in the season. Being a great perimeter defender is great, but when the team around you is ineffective on that side of the court 90 percent of the time, Okoro’s effort and pressure really means nothing.

Still, Okoro is a great defender, and if there is one thing that would keep him in the starting lineup it would be that. Nonetheless, let’s talk about the other side of the court for a minute.

The NBA draft and draft analysis really baffles me. When the Cavaliers drafted Isaac Okoro with the fifth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, my immediate reaction was oh, he’ll be a great rotation defender in a couple years. That was my thinking, that the Cavs had just selected a great defender who will be a role player. Well, here we are about a year removed from selecting him, and I still feel the same way.

Of all the lottery picks in 2020, who played at least 20 minutes per game, Okoro had the worst three-point shooting percentage, and really had the least impact of all of them. Killian Hayes is someone who also shot sub 30-percent from three, but he pitched in five assists per game. Granted, he was limited to only 26 games; he was more impactful when in there, though.

Furthermore, out of the top ten picks in 2020, Okoro’s 42 percent from the field is second-to-last, in front of only Hayes. Anthony Edwards also shot 42 percent from the field, but he also averaged nearly 20 points per game.

Listen, I still believe Okoro will grow, and will be a good NBA player. However, he’s just not a starter on basically any other team other than the Cavs. I think by late November/early December, Okoro will be replaced in the starting lineup by Lauri Markkanen. I hope I’m wrong, but Okoro doesn’t look that much different from last year, at least thus far in preseason.