Grading Cleveland Cavaliers starters through three games of action

Grading Cleveland Cavaliers starters: Isaac Okoro, SG

The Cavs seemed to have a legitimate decision on their hands coming out of the preseason. They clearly valued the playmaking and talent of Caris LeVert as the team’s fifth starter, but Isaac Okoro played so well in the team’s final two preseason games that many thought he would earn the nod. He didn’t in the first game, but the injury to Garland made a spot for him to step back in as a starter and get another chance to prove himself.

That chance appears to have been squandered, as Okoro has displayed all of his flaws and few of his strengths over the past few games. He has taken only 10 shots and made just two of them, going 0-for-5 from 3-point range, for a paltry four points in three games. It’s not clear what is more discouraging for Okoro: that he twice played more than 20 minutes and scored just two points, or that before this year he did the same twelve other times. Okoro isn’t bringing much in other areas, either, with just three rebounds and 0 assists.

Okoro is a good, perhaps great defender of guards and small wings, but without the size to defend larger forwards he has to be able to bring shooting to the table to be playable. Last year he increased his percentage but that came on some of the easiest looks in the entire NBA. He might still get those looks playing alongside Garland and Donovan Mitchell this year, but he has to increase his shot volume and percentage to have a chance at sticking around, in the starting lineup or even on the Cavaliers at all.

Grade: D