Cavs’ Ochai Agbaji can make his mark, regardless of swing skill growth

If the on-ball growth is there, it would surely raise Agbaji’s ceiling; whether that comes is another question

Agbaji did make some plays as a straight-line driver, in transition and with quick decisions countering hard closeouts from opponents in recent seasons. He can make the occasional pull-up sure, albeit more so after curls.

Nonetheless, over the course of his career with the Jayhawks, Agbaji didn’t exhibit much as far as being able to create separation off-the-bounce, and with the Cavaliers, he’ll likely project as more so a rotational off-ball shooter. The guy did show he can make shots off ball-swings, off screens, some off movement in that realm, too, and he’s a player that could be a transition catch-and-shoot target for Cleveland.

But, if he can tighten up his handle a bit to have some legitimacy on-ball with the Cavs, it’d likely lead to him having a higher ceiling at the next level, obviously.

It is again tough to say if an on-ball bag, at least where that’s a notable part of his repertoire as a scorer, can eventually come for Agbaji, in fairness. He was a four-year collegiate player, and while there were some instances, sure, his offense will likely much more so come from heady movement off-ball, his very quick and high release as a perimeter shooter, and with his cutting awareness, where he finishes well.

That’s not the worst thing, though, as the 6-foot-5 Agbaji could potentially make a real difference for the Cavaliers, and perhaps as a starter down the road, as maybe a lethal off-ball shooting threat.