But guys, he works hard!!!
So would you compare Allen's assist numbers to Garland's? Or Garland's rebound numbers to Allen's? Of course not, that would be ridiculous.Edit: One more comment on the comparison. Comparing Okoro's stats vs wings and Wade vs forwards is sloppy statistics. Those are two distinct populations. You cannot infer anything from one about the other unless you look at combined population stats.
Yeah, but are we happy with a guy who is "fine" and "has a role" despite having no jump shot and is a poor ball handler? Lamar Stevens fits that description and we got him for nothing. Okoro cost us the 5th overall pick in the draft. A weak draft, to be sure, but still - a #5 pick for a guy who can't dribble much, can't shoot at all, rarely gets a rebound, and lacks the length to guard taller wings?Okoro is fine. He needs to work on his jumper and his handles. Even if he doesn't develop those things, he'll have an NBA role.
Lamar doesn't fit Okoro's description, as he isn't as good a player.Yeah, but are we happy with a guy who is "fine" and "has a role" despite having no jump shot and is a poor ball handler? Lamar Stevens fits that description and we got him for nothing. Okoro cost us the 5th overall pick in the draft. A weak draft, to be sure, but still - a #5 pick for a guy who can't dribble much, can't shoot at all, rarely gets a rebound, and lacks the length to guard taller wings?
How high can he go? I see a good comp as Marcus Smart, another strong, tough, relentless defender who doesn't score a lot. Smart was a #6 overall pick and is 6'3" 220 pounds, so he's pretty comparable although a couple of inches shorter.
In his rookie season Smart shot 36.7% from the field and 33.5% on 3's. Okoro is at 40.2% and 28.3% on 3's. Smart averaged 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists against Okoro's 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Smart was a little better as a rookie in every area except overall shooting percentage. Smart was about a year older than Okoro as a rookie.
Last year, his sixth NBA season, Smart shot 37.5% overall and 34.7% on 3's. He improved about 1% in both areas in five years. Not too encouraging. His rebounding went from 3.3 to 3.8 per game and his assists from 3.1 to 4.9.
Smart is a guy who wasn't a very good shooter as a rookie and has barely improved at all in five years. I hope that's not the case for Okoro but I suspect that in five years his numbers will have improved about as much as Smart's have.
The lack of guard skills is what people miss about Okoro.
Lamar doesn't fit Okoro's description, as he isn't as good a player.
If Okoro doesn't develop his offense he will be a bust here, for sure. That's the nature of being drafted 5th. But if he adds a jumper even just a C&S one, he's a very good NBA starter.
So, can he learn to be a ~.340 3 point shooter over the next year or so?
Good lord that's an awfully low bar 33% after 3 years? Thats Cedi Osman territory.Difference being that MKG's shot is completely broken.
Okoro doesn't have horrible form, actually it looks pretty good. I'm no shooting form expert but anecdotally he struggles with consistent arc and balance which is evident in his landing. Also looks like he's going to fall over forward on every FT attempt.
I'll make a $50 RCF bet that he is above 33% by end of year 3.
Difference being that MKG's shot is completely broken.
Okoro doesn't have horrible form, actually it looks pretty good. I'm no shooting form expert but anecdotally he struggles with consistent arc and balance which is evident in his landing. Also looks like he's going to fall over forward on every FT attempt.
I'll make a $50 RCF bet that he is above 33% by end of year 3.