5 unexpected takeaways from the Cavs’ first week

Cavs’ first week: Okoro has been a disaster

Isaac Okoro is just 22 years old, was a top-5 pick just 2.5 years ago, and has the outline of a player who could be extremely useful for the Cavs as they look for defensive pieces to put around Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell on the wing. He looked well on his way to taking a step forward in the preseason, as he started and played extremely well over the final two games. He was confident and accurate, two things that have rarely described Okoro on offense in his NBA career and never together at the same time.

Alas, the whisp of hope in the preseason has been blown out by the winds of disappointment. Isaac Okoro has not just been bad to start the season; he’s been absolutely atrocious. When a player like Russell Westbrook has an abysmal game and then Okoro doubles him up with ineptitude, that’s the absolute pinnacle of disappointing.

Okoro has been nonexistent on offense, scoring just six points in four games. He has more turnovers and fouls (twelve) than he has points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks combined (eleven). What an insane stat!

The Cavs need a wing who can defend and space the floor, and no one is guarding Okoro out there. This version of Okoro doesn’t deserve a starting spot, and he probably doesn’t deserve a rotation spot. He needs to right the ship quickly or the Cavs might just leave him behind.