Panic or patience with 3 struggling Cleveland Cavaliers players

Struggling Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro

It’s no surprise to see Isaac Okoro on this list, as the Cavaliers have been playing “Panic or Patience” with him since he was first drafted. The 6’5″ wing is a good guard defender with quick hands and a great motor, and the team seems to genuinely love him. Yet the reality is that his offensive game is a real problem; will it turn around?

In 21 games this season Okoro is averaging just four points per game. He is shooting 37.5 percent from the field, a career-low, and has hit just six of his 32 3-point attempts (18.8 percent). Those numbers aren’t just bad compared to other Cavs players; they’re some of the worst around the league.

The only player averaging fewer points per game than Okoro while playing at least 19 minutes per game (Okoro is averaging 19.3) is P.J. Tucker, who is a legitimate floor-spacer from the corners. The only player to shoot worse than Okoro from 3-point range on as many attempts is rookie Jeremy Sochan on the San Antonio Spurs. It’s been a truly dismal start to the season, capped by a 1-for-11 effort in his most recent outing against the Toronto Raptors.

If Okoro had a track record of shooting the ball or providing something on offense, then this could be shrugged off. The problem is that when a player goes from bad to worse it’s a really bad sign for his future development. It is painful to say, but the outlook on Okoro does not look good.

Verdict: Panic