Two realistic expectations for Cavs’ Ochai Agbaji in his rookie year

Realistic expectation #2: Average at least 2.0 assists per game, and have his role gradually increase

While shooting definitely was a need for the Cavaliers, playmaking was also a huge need, and Agbaji doesn’t necessarily address that. In fact, Agbaji only had a 8.7% assist rate this past season, while being 22 years old. However, the reason he wasn’t that big of a playmaker at Kansas was because he played his role as a scoring guard.

In the NBA, I would expect passing to become easier for him. Not only will he find himself open more often in the NBA than he did in college, but he will find passing easier. When he’s on the court with a guy like Darius Garland, who’s a tremendous playmaker, teams can’t focus on Garland with Agbaji in the corner, or with Markkanen in the corner. Thus, when he starts hitting his threes at a consistent rate, teams will then start to defend toward him, leaving driving and passing lanes open for the ball-handler.

With the help around him, I would say that averaging at or over two assists per game is a rookie is a very realistic expectation. The talent around him is going to be much improved, and I have a feeling Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who are two underrated passers, are going to love playing with Agbaji.

If teams double them in the post, Agbaji can make them pay, and if they don’t send a double, Allen or Mobley have shown they know how to make teams pay. Simply because of the talent around him, two assists per game is not too much to ask.

Overall, looking back on the draft, maybe it really wasn’t all that exciting. I mean other than Banchero going first, and Keegan Murray going fourth, it played out pretty much like I expected. The Agbaji pick is still a little bit worrisome in my opinion, considering the Cavaliers have heavily invested in future talent.

That said, as Fedor pointed out in his article, the Cavs could be following the same blueprint the Memphis Grizzlies did when drafting Desmond Bane in the 2020 NBA Draft. Agbaji’s role should steadily increase as his year progresses, and he gets more comfortable, also.