Isaac 3 & D Okoro - A Two Way Playing Basketball Savant

[Alec]

I get the Kawhi comparisons. They are both stout perimeter defenders (to say the least) who project better offensively in the pros than in college. But the comparisons do Okoro a disservice, because there's literally nothing he can do to bridge that gap in performance. It's not like he can shoot well enough or be efficient enough to close gap because Kawhi has shot nearly 39% from 3 in his career. Kawhi's frame and hand size are unique. He's more explosive than Okoro. I guess I could have just said he's a hall of famer and left it at that.

Caron Butler is a-ok.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

We need a wing who can also guard some PF's too. Can Okoro do that?

I'm not on team Okoro. i'm quite ambivalent on it, but I think Okoro will be able to guard PFs similar to how PJ Tucker does.
Obviously Tucker has a better wingspan and standing reach, but I suppose he is able to guard much bigger guys by being strong, blocking out aggressively, denying position and being a nuisance.

Okoro might struggle against good post pfs that thrive on close to mid range hooks like Sabonis for example. One that comes to mind.
Hmm, my issue is that without a good 3pt shot he won't be able to punish bigger guys on the other end as he isn't quick enough to create separation or long enough to finish over them if he can't get a good step ahead of them.
Okoro will probably be better against he smaller guys..ones that he can bully. Either on drives or from the post. He is not afraid to bang.

But how are you going to construct your offense with a guy like Okoro? and is he good enough defensively to offset it?

 

[Alec]

We need a wing who can also guard some PF's too. Can Okoro do that?

That remains to be seen. He isn't long but he shouldn't give up much ground to 4's. He's pesky and stout enough that he will force them to pick up their dribbles sometimes. But I don't see his length disrupting a 6'11 guy's spotup.

 

[daytripper]

Because Kawhi is so elite that some people pray they can find a diamond in the rough reach that level (although I agree, Okoro is literally nothing like Kawhi).

The Caron Butler comparison's are the best out there. They make sense in a variety of ways.


The glaring stat that bothers me the most is 4.4 rebounds per game.. That's.... not good.. Especially for a player most of you are claiming to be so physical and so cerebral.. Two comparison's I've seen for Okoro is Caron Butler and PJ Tucker.. Caron Butler's freshman year averaged 7.6 rebounds per game.. PJ Tucker averaged 6.9 rebounds per game with significantly less minutes per.

3pt% at 28%... That's.... bad. Granted, small sample size so it's hard to gauge but first look that is not ideal.

This guy goes in the 20's in most drafts. With this draft being so weak is the only reason we're discussing him in the top 10 which makes the Kawhi prayers even more of a fantasy.

Okoro played on an Auburn team that was stacked with seniors who were mainly hustle type guys to also rebound... They had a system where 4 guys would go for the board after every shot too. I would give him a little bit of a break on the rebounding stat. He's shown to be more than willing to get in and mix it up off the glass or get on the floor for loose balls when necessary.
I hate to use comparisons but if Caron Butler, Jaylen Brown, etc types are any type of reasonable outcome at all for Okoro (which I believe can be the case depending on work ethic of course) then I am running to the podium to turn in the card at #5 for this kid esp in this draft.
In today's league we see 3's playing PF so I believe in many cases Okoro should be more than fine defending the 1-4 but obviously the lengthy Giannis and AD's of the world will present problems as it does for every other team. At one point hopefully add a youngish rim protector to go along with Nance in the frontcourt too which should clean up alot of our issues assuming Drummond is not the long term answer there.

 

[Los216]

That remains to be seen. He isn't long but he shouldn't give up much ground to 4's. He's pesky and stout enough that he will force them to pick up their dribbles sometimes. But I don't see his length disrupting a 6'11 guy's spotup.

Sounds undersized no?

 

[Alec]

Sounds undersized no?

Here's the average measurements of all lottery picks going back to 1987.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I get the Kawhi comparisons. They are both stout perimeter defenders (to say the least) who project better offensively in the pros than in college. But the comparisons do Okoro a disservice, because there's literally nothing he can do to bridge that gap in performance. It's not like he can shoot well enough or be efficient enough to close gap because Kawhi has shot nearly 39% from 3 in his career. Kawhi's frame and hand size are unique. He's more explosive than Okoro. I guess I could have just said he's a hall of famer and left it at that.

Caron Butler is a-ok.

I agree -- he just doesn't have the length Kahwi does.

Physically, he compares best with Jimmy Butler, whose wingspan was only 6'7.5" at the combine, but who uses his strength to guard significantly longer players. Not saying he's going to be Butler, but I think that's the type of player you look at to see how Okoro could be used if he hits his upside.

@Los216 -- what to you think of Butler as a potential defensive comp for Okoro?

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I don't love the track record of wing player that can't shoot. They are mostly either end up being role players or they completely bust. Butler and Kawhi are huge exceptions.

Just two years ago Nathan was in love with Zhaire Smith...he had great analytics, but where is he?

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

I think you do have to be a bit careful in assessing 19 year old players. What we do know is that Okoro is a willing and skilled defender at a young age, something that is rare. It is likely a reflection on his work ethic. Whatever work he did to become that should be able to improve his shooting with time. Extreme effort guys tend to develop the skills at each level that they need to excel. That is tricky in basketball because a 6'5" high school player with Division 1 skills is going to torture most high school teams by just taking them to the hoop. Shooting often lags. I like him.

 

[Alec]

Here's the average measurements of all lottery picks going back to 1987.

To follow up:

Okoro supposedly last measured in at 6'6 in shoes. Putting him roughly 2" shorter than the average SF and and 3/4" above SG average.

8'4.5" standing reach. Which is below average for a SG. and roughly 5" below average when compared to SFs.

 

[Los216]

I agree -- he just doesn't have the length Kahwi does.

Physically, he compares best with Jimmy Butler, whose wingspan was only 6'7.5" at the combine, but who uses his strength to guard significantly longer players. Not saying he's going to be Butler, but I think that's the type of player you look at to see how Okoro could be used if he hits his upside.

@Los216 -- what to you think of Butler as a potential defensive comp for Okoro?

Jimmy Butler is a little taller and seems to be quicker.

 

[Alec]

In a single offensive possession, Okoro can demonstrate advanced skill and a lack of skill.

Handle isn't good enough for iso situations, yet. Teams will sag until he can prove he improved his jumper. Nice first step, and can get past a defender, but may get his pocket picked by a help defender or fumble it away. Looks stiff on some drives. But on that same iffy drive, he may find a shooter in the corner and throw a perfect pass, or get to the rim with a nice euro step and finish with either hand through traffic. It's really odd.

 

[daytripper]

^Those measurements were from his senior year in high school.

Anyways I'm all in on Okoro at this point and will be disappointed if the Cavs don't grab him in this draft. (Only exception would be if Wiseman somehow fell down the board which seems very improbable).

 

[Cavatt]

He's a worse rebounder in college than Kawhi. They are virtually the same in every other category. Okoro is a more efficient scorer than Kawhi at the same age, and maybe a little better playmaker on less usage.

Kawhi isn't an above the rim guy, he is more earthbound than Okoro, so not sure where the athleticism disconnect is. Fact is there is very little difference between them at the same time in their careers, and I think that applies to their IQ as well. Hands and arms are different of course because Kawhi is a freak, but their blocks and steals are similar. Okoro got more blocks and I think that belies his athleticism.

If you wonder why Kawhi wasn't taken higher, it is exactly the reasons you are seeing people talk themselves out of Okoro in this thread.

This is the guy. Defensive stopper, who has offensive upside. He will fit with the guards we have and cover for their mistakes, while holding them accountable defensively. This guy got seniors to look up to him as a leader, and they only lost 2 games while he was on the court with him. I know Koby is reading this. Don't overthink it, this is your missing cultural piece who will bridge the obsession of Collin Sexton and promote a defensive culture on the team.

Watch the way he talks about the game film, this guy is a high IQ dude who can see what is going on in the game and make adjustments to win. He is so much smarter than the guys ahead of him. he scouts his opponents and exploits their weaknesses and he can rattle them off months later.

 

[Man Called X]

Watch the way he talks about the game film, this guy is a high IQ dude who can see what is going on in the game and make adjustments to win. He is so much smarter than the guys ahead of him. he scouts his opponents and exploits their weaknesses and he can rattle them off months later.

If he legitimately has that kind of eidetic memory, that's pretty amazing. Almost LeBron-esque.