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

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Who is Isaac Okoro's Favorite Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor?

  • Arcadius (if one does not count Constantine as first)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Justinian the Great

    Votes: 8 14.3%
  • Zeno

    Votes: 2 3.6%
  • Heraclius

    Votes: 3 5.4%
  • Basil II, the Bulgar Slayer

    Votes: 6 10.7%
  • Nikephoros II Phokas, the Pale Death of the Saracens

    Votes: 7 12.5%
  • Alexios I Komnenos

    Votes: 4 7.1%
  • John II, the Beautiful Komnenos

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Constantine XI

    Votes: 4 7.1%
  • Jim I Chones, the Magnificent

    Votes: 26 46.4%

  • Total voters
    56
I don’t see it with Okoro. And I’m really trying. I need more on the offensive end. Whatever people are seeing with regards to athleticism and slashing, I’m missing.
I'm not high on Okoro because of his poor shooting, he's bad from distance and also sometimes hesitant to let wide open looks fly, that concerns me. I think people that like him think he resembles somebody like Andre Iguadola.

Edit: I'm coming around on this guy, I think I'm a fan. The people saying he would be a good fit with Sexton, I think are correct, these two would be a pain to try to keep out of the lane. This dude is very strong and aggressive, competes hard, plays with a ton of effort, can probably defend 4 positions. The only red flag is his shooting, but his form doesn't look broken, if you can get him to 36% from 3 I think you would be very happy with that. Would be love to have him.


 
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Jay Bilas said in one of ESPN's show that Okoro could go as high as #2 pick. Hoping the Warriors take him and Wiseman fall for the cavs.

Wiseman scares me as well. Heard a lot of concerns regarding his consistent motor. He isn't better than Drummond and if Andre wants to stay here long term, a guy like Wiseman doesn't appeal as much. As a franchise we are in a weird place. We have a decent amount of young talent, so I tend to look at a guy like Okoro as more of a need. We are horrific at defense and he fills that role.

I think regardless, at 5 we are getting someone who helps our team. If it ends up being Wiseman, I have confidence in what our next course of action might be.
 
I have been thinking about Okoro, and I am obsessed. I just think he is the guy. He's the Kawhi or Giannis of this draft. May not reach their level, but I think he is going to be an allstar and could easily be the best guy in this draft.

This is why I think this.

Guy''s foot work is excellent, but as opposed to a tricky guy like Porter Jr, he just knows how to attack space efficiently. Reminds me a bit of Corey Magette taking the most direct route and just forcing the defense to do anything to stop him. Has hesitation before attacking the basket looking like a pro. He let's his defender backpedal for that half a second and attacks him at the basket before his defender can adjust. Saw something similar, but in my opinion not as polished in Porter last year. Euro step is there, change of pace, and just dunking hard. Great feet and it makes sense he is known for staying in front of guys.

His assists are all reads and have nothing to do with set plays. Assist rate is interesting and what is his ceiling if he shoots 70% around the rim, but can make the pass to the roll man or drop off to the big? Decision making leading to assists after breaking the defense seems basic, but a guy who makes the right decisions on those plays just has a higher ceiling. That's what I think really separates him from a guy like Vassell or Okongwu. I like Haliburton and Ball for similar reasons.

High IQ guy known for defense, but can obviously make reads and plays a read and react game. Knock on Okoro is that he doesn't push the envelope. It's not that he isn't aggressive because he is, just that he should be looking for his offense more? I think he needs offensive confidence, but the NBA game is going to be wide open for him. He is going to get to the rim.

Finishing is so so good. Creative finisher who protects the ball with his body and has excellent touch. Low center of gravity means guys can't budge him unless they shove him. Has that quality that Porter Jr has also shown of absorbing contact then finishing. Very high appeal IMO. It's where I see the Jalen Brown comparison.

Shooting is obviously the big red flag. I get the MKG comparisons, but I think Okoro is a better ball handler and is a better finisher. MKG was not a big enough threat there and what parts of his game did he develop? Okoro has a +14 net rating 116 on off and 102 def. He impacts the game in more ways than MKG, and look, lots of guys have learned to shoot. MKG has something wrong with him. He looks like he just discovered the 3 pt shot out there. MKG is almost a an outlier in that his shot has not improved at all. Also, MKG never made an assist game to go with his ability to attack the basket. Shoot, assist, Attack the basket. You can be a star with 2, but only 1 is high end role player at best. Just one of those is easy to defend. Right now Okoro has a developing assist game. I think he is a good fit for the Cavs as a guy who will make plays for others. I think his worst case scenario is Corey Magette off the bench. MKG only broke 50% in 2pt% 2x in his career. Not good enough Okoro shoots 60% from 2. He's that good finishing at the rim. Did you think MKG would never improve as a shooter and always be worse as an assist man than in college? He dominated in college and "just needed a shot" but really he was never the playmaker he looked like he could be, and his shooting didn't improve and he is putting up garbage still. Also is MKG a stopper? Not saying he sucks defensively, but how come nobody wants him on their team to slow down star players? He needed more than shooting, but yes I would have drafted him at the time if I had been able. I feel for guys like MKG because he is not without talent, but is an early bloomer Evan Turner or Tyreke Evans who were unable to add to their games or prove super efficient in one area.

I see him as fitting with everyone. You can run him with Sexton and force a team to keep them out of the paint, you can pair him with KPJ and go more wing defense out there with creation ability. Big should like him, he could totally play a 2 man game with Love or Drummond. He is a good cutter and both bigs can hit those guys. I really would like to see him play with Nance. 2 tough defenders, but Okoro is the better finisher. Nance can dunk when guys overcommit to Okoro's drives. Defensively, they would be a bear for the other team, very switchy, but also strong. I think he will be able to handle modern PFs fine. Strong like Harden in the post.

This is my guy at 5. Cavs have reported interest and was one place i heard the Jalen comparison. I actually think he is the only high floor high upside player in the the lottery.
 
His defensive presence is absurd. Leonard and Ben Wallace ish..
 
His defensive presence is absurd. Leonard and Ben Wallace ish..

Ball denial is so good. He's always in contact with his man and he is aware of the ball at all times.
 
@Cavatt I still like Okongwu and Vassell as well, but I think you just sold me. The Cavs need defense badly, and this dude just looks like he's already got an NBA ready body. I hope he is there and the Cavs pull the trigger. If he can continue to work on that shot and his handle, look out!
 
@Cavatt I still like Okongwu and Vassell as well, but I think you just sold me. The Cavs need defense badly, and this dude just looks like he's already got an NBA ready body. I hope he is there and the Cavs pull the trigger. If he can continue to work on that shot and his handle, look out!

Yeah I don't want to overstate the case because he definitely has things he needs to iron out. There are just some of these things that indicate potential star ability. He is finishing at the same rate as Lebron his first year in the league. Shoots a similar percentage from 3.

I think his form isn't broken, and suspect he has played as big man his whole life dunking and powering through everyone. I think getting comfy on the perimeter is important .

I just think he has the most potential 2 ways which is what we need
 
Yeah I don't want to overstate the case because he definitely has things he needs to iron out. There are just some of these things that indicate potential star ability. He is finishing at the same rate as Lebron his first year in the league. Shoots a similar percentage from 3.

I think his form isn't broken, and suspect he has played as big man his whole life dunking and powering through everyone. I think getting comfy on the perimeter is important .

I just think he has the most potential 2 ways which is what we need

Have you heard anything about his attitude, work ethic, off court issues, etc? If he had a Sexton type of mentality/work ethic, I think the pick is a no-brainer (assuming no one else scoops him up.)

The only other thing I'm reading/looking at as a potential issue is lack of elite wingspan... If we want him to guard 1-3 (or even 4 in spurts), I'm not sure a 6'8 3/4" wingspan is ideal (but also isn't so bad that its a deal-breaker).
 
He is for sure the guy I want the most. I like Vassell, Okongwu and Deni but Okoro is the one I really want. With Okoro you could play him with Sexton + one of KP/Cedi and allow KP/Cedi to do the playmaking and not have to worry about defending the hard wing match up + allow Sexton guard the pg.

I would favour Vassell for his added shooting but I am a bit worried about his ability to defend legit 3's, Okoro is much bigger and stronger even without the length.
 
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I've got Okoro in my preferred top 2, based on:
  • His flair, athleticism and relentless attack on the rim
  • Leaping ability/verticality
  • Spin moves and Euro steps - his Euros are a thing of beauty. So clean and smooth as he glides to the rim.
  • Defensive tenacity
I think shooting being his biggest weakness is actually a plus for the Cavs. After seeing what they did with Sexton (and understanding that Okoro is a hard-working guy that's open and willing to learn/grow), I feel like this could be a resolvable issue for the coaching staff. From what I've seen, it all comes down to his mechanics - like Sexton - and mechanics are repairable. His strengths, though, are things you can't teach. You just have to have them.
 
The comparison to Gerald Wallace is actually pretty accurate. That's his median projection. If he learns to shoot or develops some sort of in-between game (which he currently has none) then he can go up from there
 
Okoro has really high upside IMO. He is a tenacious defender with a high IQ, with an offensive skillset that is above average that will improve over time.

I have to imagine he is gone by 5. We need to move up if hes the pick. Honestly, if we truly want to start competing. It may be worth sacrificing an asset to move up.

T-Wolves: If they dont trade, will go Edwards
GSW: If they dont trade, will go Wiseman
Hornets: MJ loves his high motor guys. They are a risk.
Chicago: Just drafted White, have Lavine locked up, and have no centers. If Wiseman falls, that means someone took Ball high & Okoro fell. If not, theyd take him.
 
Isaac Okoro would fit right into hard-working culture Cavs are trying to build



2020 NBA Draft prospect Isaac Okoro would be able to get to FT line often for Cavs

 
I like Okoro a ton and think he will improve as a shooter, but with his skill-set and short-comings, he needs to project as more of a 3-4, but I wouldn't be surprised if he measures at 6'5" or even slightly shorter, which is a concern.
 
I like Okoro a ton and think he will improve as a shooter, but with his skill-set and short-comings, he needs to project as more of a 3-4, but I wouldn't be surprised if he measures at 6'5" or even slightly shorter, which is a concern.

That is my concern as well with both he and Vassell. They both make a lot less sense as 2's, if our intention is to keep both Sexton and Garland. We realistically need a player who is of that same mold (as those two) but is more of a true 3......so that all 3 guys can realistically be on the floor together.

Relative to what I have seen, it seems more realistic that Vassell is big enough to fill that role......For Okoro, the one measurement in the databases I have access to pegs him at 6'4.75" without shoes. He would need a big wingspan and standing reach number IMO to not have a substantial length disadvantage at the 3. For comparison sake, someone like Paul George was 6'7.75 without shoes. Players have sized down recently but we already have two undersized players at the 1/2........adding a 3rd, relative to their position, seems like we'd just get physically overwhelmed on the perimeter.

I like Okoro but if the intention is to keep Garland and Sexton, we need a potentially bigger and longer player on the wing. Maybe Okoro has grown......which would be ideal but we'll see.
 
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