2020 NBA Draft

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Every prospect is a bit overrated in this draft. Most of these high lottery guys would be late lottery in most drafts. With that said I do like Okoro's motor, defense, finishing, and ability to impact winning games on that Auburn squad. That might be enough value in this draft. Who at 5 other than Okongwu and possibly Vassell could come right in and help the Cavs defensively?

Sorry, I did not mean to reply with that. Thought I had deleted it.

Hmm, i'm not looking for a defender in the top 5. Those can be found in the 20s. There are a lot of solid defenders in this draft that are projected outside the lottery. If we pick him 5th, you have to think he has the potential to be a positive impact player on the offensive end.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Just listened to Fedor's new 47-minute podcast. Here's a summary of the key points.

1. The best option (in his opinion) is to trade down. Consensus from Fedor's sources is the top tier consists of Ball, Edwards, and Wiseman in some order and those three will be the top three picks. After that there's a group of 6-7 players who are very close so it would make sense for the Cavs to trade down a few spots, get an asset, and still draft a similar talent to what they would have taken at #5.

However, teams looking to trade up would be angling for one of the top three players and a couple of those teams may be willing to trade down. It's not likely anybody will want to move up to #5 when they can get a similar talent by standing pat. That being said, it only takes one team to fall in love with a guy. The Knicks, Wizards, and Suns are close enough to #5 where the Cavs could move down and still get a player they like.

The Celtics may be too far down at #14 but they have a couple of late first round picks. Some teams would be drafting a player they never saw if they had to pick there, but not the Cavs. They put more effort into scouting than just about anybody. They put a huge emphasis on in-person workouts, which had a major impact on their decisions to draft Sexton and Garland. The Cavs have done their homework on all the players in this draft.

2. Getting into specific players, Okoro provides the defense the Cavs desparately need but only shot 29% on 3's. However, "people" think his outside shot has a "correctable flaw". Also, there are ways to score that don't involve jump shooting. Okoro can get to the rim off the dribble and finish after contact. He also can score in transition. If his outside shot can be improved he has the potential to be another Andre Iguodala or Jaylen Brown.

Another point in Okoro's favor is that the NBA is becoming a "wing league". The players who are having the biggest impact on playoff series are wings like Butler, George, and Leonard. Teams are looking for 3-and-D types and Okoro fits the profile if his shot can be fixed.

3. Okongwu might be in the top 3 of the draft if his perimeter skills were better. He has Bam Adebayo potential if he could shoot from the perimeter. At the moment his game is totally around the rim and he's undersized for that role at 6'9". The risk is what kind of player he would be without an outside game.

4. Vassell is better known since he has two years in college. He doesn't have as much upside. The question is how much more can he add to his game. Can he develop the ability to create his shot or will he remain a 3-and-D guy who shoots 3's off the pass?

5. The wild card is Patrick Willliams, a great athlete who is very raw. He's 6'8" with tons of potential at both the 3 and 4. Teams are looking for guys with his toolbox. He's also the youngest player in the draft and some teams like getting a "moldable" talent. But he could also blow up in your face. Definitely a boom or bust pick.

6. Halliburton is another option but would the Cavs really draft yet another guard?

Fedor thinks Deni Avdija will go at #4 but if not it will come down to a three-player choice of Toppin, Avdija, and Okoro. You can talk yourself into or out of any of them. They didn't discuss Toppin in the podcast but Fedor has written that the Cavs are considering him as an eventual replacement for Love as a stretch-4. If they have him as clearly the best player they could go that direction.

In the end Fedor thinks it will be tough for the Cavs to pass on Okoro as he probably gives them the best combination of talent and filling the biggest need, plus being a wing player. But there are a lot of variables and unknowns.

 

[Nathan S]

Williams gets talked about like he has elite physical tools, but I don't see it. Definitely solid height/length, reasonably strong, decent quickness and leaping ability. But where is he elite? Same with his skillset; he's just kind of okay at everything. Seems like a weird play in the lottery. What makes him a "wildcard"?

 

[daytripper]

I agree about Williams. Teams are just so desperate for guys that have the size to play the 3 that someone like him gets bumped up. I would take a gamble but definitely not in the top 10. I'd even take S. Bey ahead of Williams since he's proven more before rolling the dice on Williams tbh.

I still think Wiseman is the guy with the highest ceiling but he's going top 3. I really like Hayes but I can't see the Cavs taking another PG esp one that is 19 and needs a few years of seasoning. By process of elimination I think it's going to be Okoro unless they trade down. This is a wing league and we need at least another one as Windler is unproven and Osman is a backup. Maybe Okoro never becomes more than a Battier roleplayer type. He's a few years younger coming into the league so who knows..but we could really use that type of guy. Okoro initially being low usage might be a plus when we have Sexton, KPJ, Windler, Garland, and Love playing big minutes. Okoro should be able to effect the game in other ways with his defense, motor, and IQ until he hopefully develops offensively. Kinda going against the analytics and going with my gut on this one though.

 

[JJ_PR]

I've been watching some Okoro videos on YouTube. He's being compared to Kawhi Leonard & Jimmy Butler. His jumpshot is far from unfixable. It actually looks really solid, he can definetly improve in that area.

 

[Cavatt]

I've been watching some Okoro videos on YouTube. He's being compared to Kawhi Leonard & Jimmy Butler. His jumpshot is far from unfixable. It actually looks really solid, he can definetly improve in that area.

Been my pick for a long time. The other fit I see is Haliburton, who I think is being slept on, but we don't need another guard.

Okoro fits culturally, fits the upside requirement, fits the need requirement, has good if not elite athleticism, first step, defensive ability, and High BBIQ. The last one makes me think he has star potential.

We saw so many of our guys really improve their jumpshot, I think they can do it with Okoro.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Been my pick for a long time. The other fit I see is Haliburton, who I think is being slept on, but we don't need another guard.

Okoro fits culturally, fits the upside requirement, fits the need requirement, has good if not elite athleticism, first step, defensive ability, and High BBIQ. The last one makes me think he has star potential.

We saw so many of our guys really improve their jumpshot, I think they can do it with Okoro.

What elite athleticism and first step? this is not correct.
His first step is weak.

 

[Cavatt]

What elite athleticism and first step? this is not correct.
His first step is weak.

Wrong. Gets by guys on the reg without a jumpshot. Handle and first step underrated

 

[Nathan S]

What elite athleticism and first step? this is not correct.
His first step is weak.

I don't hate Okoro (I'd say I'm on the "Okoro is Okay" bandwagon), but this is a fair complaint. There's a reason he didn't have any games where he really went off as a scorer. He doesn't have a great first step or the shooting gravity to draw hard closeouts, so he can't create his own offense very much. Mainly contributes a few points here and there within the flow of the offense.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Wrong. Gets by guys on the reg without a jumpshot. Handle and first step underrated

Handle is underrated. His first step is certainly not. And no, he doesn't get by guys on the regular. He is also not an explosive cutter off the ball.
Can you show me a clip that shows his great first step?
If he did get by guys on the regular he would have scored more assists and created breakdowns for his team.

 

[Goldin Brown]

Williams gets talked about like he has elite physical tools, but I don't see it. Definitely solid height/length, reasonably strong, decent quickness and leaping ability. But where is he elite? Same with his skillset; he's just kind of okay at everything. Seems like a weird play in the lottery. What makes him a "wildcard"?

I think teams are intrigued about his upside. He does everything pretty okay, but he's got good size, strength and length, also plays the most valuable position in the league right now. If a guy like this develops then he's going to be pretty valuable. I mean, we just saw a Morris twin as a valuable rotation player for a championship team. You need these type of players, this kind of two way combo foward that can knock down corner threes.

 

[daytripper]

Also alot of his points are dunks in transition so it's really hard to judge one way or the other esp when his usage is so low. I do agree his handle does have some potential. He's made some really nice, quick decisions with the ball in terms of passing and finding the right man which bodes well for his basketball IQ. I can see him and Sexton running the break.

 

[Nathan S]

I think teams are intrigued about his upside. He does everything pretty okay, but he's got good size, strength and length, also plays the most valuable position in the league right now. If a guy like this develops then he's going to be pretty valuable. I mean, we just saw a Morris twin as a valuable rotation player for a championship team. You need these type of players, this kind of two way combo foward that can knock down corner threes.

What's the ceiling though? It just seems unlikely that he'll be great at anything. Why take on the bust risk for a guy without any kind of elite potential?

 

[Goldin Brown]

What's the ceiling though? It just seems unlikely that he'll be great at anything. Why take on the bust risk for a guy without any kind of elite potential?

That's the million dollar question... I guess he's that Jeff Green archetype, that's the best I can come up with. I say his ceiling is good Jeff Green. I have no idea if he can develop into that type of player, but that's who his game resembles to me. I don't think he's going to be that good, I'm just saying best case.

 

[Cavatt]

Handle is underrated. His first step is certainly not. And no, he doesn't get by guys on the regular. He is also not an explosive cutter off the ball.
Can you show me a clip that shows his great first step?
If he did get by guys on the regular he would have scored more assists and created breakdowns for his team.

10 min video. I counted 17 instances where he got around him man starting at the 3pt line without a screen. In almost every instance, the guy is laying off him daring him to shoot and he still gets into the paint. You can say that is not an elite 1st step, but give me any instances of anyone else in the draft getting by their guy when they are daring him to shoot, especially any of the wings. Show just a couple of examples where Vassell or Deni can do this. In a couple instances there are double teams both hanging back to prevent the penetration and he still gets to the paint.

NO screen, getting to the rim without the threat of a 3pt shot. How else can you define that except a good handle/first step. Please check my work

26sec
34sec
1min
1:38
2:03
3:45
4:30
4:38
4:44
5:00 2 guys waiting back waiting for him
5:33
5:51
6:18
6:25
8:30
8:34
8:46

18% usage. This guy is going to be really good. I think they can fix his shot and it is going to help his dribble drive game so much. Even if you think he is just getting by because of his strength, so what. He is strong as hell. The only guys fast enough to stay in front will be too small, and the guys big enough to handle his strength will be too slow. He regularly guarded pg's and his foot work is on point. This guy has fast feet.

Don't get cute with this draft. This is our guy and I think he has the best floor/ceiling ratio besides maybe Wiseman.