Cavs’ approach with these 2 players early on next year will be telling

#1: Isaac Okoro

The first player to comes to mind in this light that we touched on earlier is Isaac Okoro. In his first two seasons, Okoro has often done a fine job on the defensive end on the perimeter, even in such tough matchups game after game.

This now-past season, he did so again, and like other Cavaliers, should benefit from the Mobley-Allen defensive duo to help. I’m not discounting Okoro’s defensive work against quality perimeter options/primary initiators a bunch of the time, though, and his competitiveness is not something I take for granted.

Either way, Okoro’s offense is still something that many objectively have to have their questions about. Coming into the NBA after one collegiate season at Auburn, it was apparent that Okoro was fairly raw on that end of the floor, and as a shooter.

That’s generally what has played out through two seasons. This past season, with him more so playing at the 2 with Sexton’s injury, Okoro had 8.8 points per contest, with the minutes-share reduced a bit from 32.4 to 29.6 minutes per game.

Okoro did close out the season fairly well as a catch-and-shoot player from three-point range, and ended out shooting 35.0 percent from three on the year. He connected on 46.0 percent from deep in his last 28 regular season appearances.

That being said, his three-point attempts per contest decreased to 2.3 from 3.2 as a rookie, and in that aforementioned close to his second season, he attempted only 1.8 per game. So, needless to say, the volume wasn’t high.

So, looking onward, and with early next season in mind here, if Okoro doesn’t show more offensive growth, or at least more assertiveness I believe when he’s in, especially if it’s a starting-type minutes-share, I could foresee a minutes trim. After the first 10-12 games, we could see how the outlook is in that realm, I’d think.

Other guys such as Collin Sexton, to some extent, if he’s back, Caris LeVert, a potential combo guard/wing selection and Lamar Stevens could factor in more, and as far as defensive guys, Stevens could definitely impact Okoro’s outlook. Stevens can do similar things, and although Okoro is quicker, Stevens is more capable against some bigger wings and/or forwards, and showed encouraging offensive capabilities when given the chances last season.

It’ll be telling to see if Okoro can make more things happen offensively in the earlygoing next season, anyway. Regardless, I do question if he could potentially be a trade piece down the road, or be a player that’s more of a situational piece. He’s still only 21, but this next year is a crucial one for his future.