The Cleveland Cavaliers are about to enter the 2021-22 season with what could quite possibly be the highest level of expectations they’ve faced since the second post-LeBron James era began. These expectations involve both the team as a whole as well as individual players. From an individual standpoint, one player in particular comes to mind for me.
That would be none other than last year’s first-round selection, Isaac Okoro, who the Cavs were enthralled enough with to make him their fifth overall selection during the 2020 NBA Draft. While their selection may have been based upon his immense potential, Okoro demonstrated enough at Auburn to warrant his selection.
The Cavs are clearly invested in Isaac Okor. With that in mind, what are the best and worst outcomes for him in the 2021-22 season?
Heading into just his second NBA season, Okoro still has plenty of time to develop into the wing that the Cleveland-based team desperately needs. Whether or not he sees that time as a starter or in the second unit will be a question that will continue to follow him until he separates himself from the pack offensively.
With that in mind, he simply must find a way to space the floor for the Cavs as an off-ball cutter or semi-reliable marksmen from range while simultaneously improving his capabilities as a ball-handler. Defensively, Okoro will look to improve as both an on and off-ball defender.
While there’s a case to made that Okoro can and will improve this season, we would be remiss if we didn’t at least consider the very possibility that he stagnates or regresses entirely. Bearing that in mind, here are the best and worst-case scenarios for Isaac Okoro during the 2021-22 season.