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Onyeka Okongwu Scouting: Discuss

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I wouldn't mind,if the Cavs drafted Okongwu since he's my second choice....

Yeah I like him. It means we have to trade Drummond, which might be best. Weird thing is I would like to retain TT if we did draft him as a mentor. That would mean Drummon, TT, Bell and Okongwu at least until the deadline. I do think 28M is going to be hard to match Salary Wise, so while Drummond may be able to save a team a lot of money and contribute to the playoffs, it will still be a tough deal to get done.
 
Yeah I like him. It means we have to trade Drummond, which might be best. Weird thing is I would like to retain TT if we did draft him as a mentor. That would mean Drummon, TT, Bell and Okongwu at least until the deadline. I do think 28M is going to be hard to match Salary Wise, so while Drummond may be able to save a team a lot of money and contribute to the playoffs, it will still be a tough deal to get done.



I rather keep Bell than Drummond. For whatever reason, Drummond doesn't have "it" for a player his size. I understand, he can rebound, steal and block shots but to me he tries to be the focal point of the team when the organization is trying to see,which young player can be the face of the organization and build around him.From,what I've been reading all summer the organization wants it to be Porter or Sexton. I don't want to see my center acting like he's a guard. He should be working on some moves to help him improve the team...

From,what I've been reading about Okongwu while he needs to work on his range he does have work on his game...I like that about him.

I agree with you about Tristan because he have no issue helping the young guys. Him and Delly done a great job mentoring them.
 
I really don't think it's reasonable to trade Drummond this year. The salary is just too big and for us to save some team money for next offseason we'd have to take on a bunch of bad money. I don't see it happening.
 
Thanks, great column. It seems that Wiseman has no chance of dropping to #5 so I would be very happy with Okongwu. I read somewhere that he is still growing so he may end up being a little taller than 6'9". With his "high floor" I don't see how the Cavs can go wrong with this kid either as a future 5 or a long term replacement for Love.

According to the coach at USC he has a tremendous attitude and work ethic in addition to his basketball talent and potential. If the Adebayo comp is solid then Okongwu would be an excellent pick at #5 in a generally weak draft.
 
I really don't think it's reasonable to trade Drummond this year. The salary is just too big and for us to save some team money for next offseason we'd have to take on a bunch of bad money. I don't see it happening.
I can see it happening. Not because teams will want Drummond per se, but because big ending contracts will always have value in the NBA. We still need to see what happens with the draft and of the Cavs show interest in re-signing Drummond.
 
Thanks, great column. It seems that Wiseman has no chance of dropping to #5 so I would be very happy with Okongwu. I read somewhere that he is still growing so he may end up being a little taller than 6'9". With his "high floor" I don't see how the Cavs can go wrong with this kid either as a future 5 or a long term replacement for Love.

According to the coach at USC he has a tremendous attitude and work ethic in addition to his basketball talent and potential. If the Adebayo comp is solid then Okongwu would be an excellent pick at #5 in a generally weak draft.


Okoro and Okongwu are my top two players for the Cavs to draft.
 
I can see it happening. Not because teams will want Drummond per se, but because big ending contracts will always have value in the NBA. We still need to see what happens with the draft and of the Cavs show interest in re-signing Drummond.

Yeah, his salaray just might be too big for the teams that actually need it. I keep looking around for matching contracts of guys actually up for grabs, and there really aren't many. Hayward Drummond swap is one of the only ones that actually makes sense for both sides.

The Buddy Hield one doesn't and isn't a fit.
 
Windhorst was a guest on the Wine & Gold Podcast. He says the word is Okongwu has been very impressive and may be the most NBA ready player. So much so that he may move way up in the draft. It's possible he could go in the top 3-4.
If so, then a player expected to go very high could be available for the Cavs.
Windhorst also said Anthony Edwards has not been impressive in pre-draft workouts.
 
Windhorst was a guest on the Wine & Gold Podcast. He says the word is Okongwu has been very impressive and may be the most NBA ready player. So much so that he may move way up in the draft. It's possible he could go in the top 3-4.
If so, then a player expected to go very high could be available for the Cavs.
Windhorst also said Anthony Edwards has not been impressive in pre-draft workouts.

If Okongwu at 19 years old is the most NBA ready player in the draft (he's not), he should be the clear pick at #1. People losing their minds.
 
If Okongwu at 19 years old is the most NBA ready player in the draft (he's not), he should be the clear pick at #1. People losing their minds.

From what I've read, it sounds like he does things right now that every NBA team wants. It's not necessarily high-ceiling stuff, but in terms of defense, shot-blocking, rim-running...he does seem pretty ready. There may be some guys who are more NBA-ready to contribute day 1, but how many of them are projected Top 10? Maybe Halliburton?
 
From what I've read, it sounds like he does things right now that every NBA team wants. It's not necessarily high-ceiling stuff, but in terms of defense, shot-blocking, rim-running...he does seem pretty ready. There may be some guys who are more NBA-ready to contribute day 1, but how many of them are projected Top 10? Maybe Halliburton?

I'd definitely make a case for Haliburton and Vassell. Not even super high on Avdija, but in terms of NBA-readiness, yeah, he probably beats Okongwu too. Could also make a case for Toppin, on the grounds that he just won the Wooden Award while Okongwu didn't even manage Pac-12 Freshman of the year. If Okongwu is better than all of those guys right now, and then you additionally factor in his potential for further improvement due to his age and developing offensive skillset, I think he's the clear #1 guy in this draft. But I don't think that's the case...I buy his upside, but don't think he'll be a high-impact guy anytime soon.
 
I'd definitely make a case for Haliburton and Vassell. Not even super high on Avdija, but in terms of NBA-readiness, yeah, he probably beats Okongwu too. Could also make a case for Toppin, on the grounds that he just won the Wooden Award while Okongwu didn't even manage Pac-12 Freshman of the year. If Okongwu is better than all of those guys right now, and then you additionally factor in his potential for further improvement due to his age and developing offensive skillset, I think he's the clear #1 guy in this draft. But I don't think that's the case...I buy his upside, but don't think he'll be a high-impact guy anytime soon.

Yeah I have heard most people say they will need to be patient with Okongwu and he is likely to have a Wendell Carter like rookie year.

Still, we have seen that USC can sometimes limit what their players are allowed to do. Not showing the whole aresenal.

I heard some say that Okongwu's efficiency is pretty special. Is that true?

Also, Windy is terrible at the draft. He doesn't even watch college at all.
 
Windhorst was a guest on the Wine & Gold Podcast. He says the word is Okongwu has been very impressive and may be the most NBA ready player. So much so that he may move way up in the draft. It's possible he could go in the top 3-4.
If so, then a player expected to go very high could be available for the Cavs.
Windhorst also said Anthony Edwards has not been impressive in pre-draft workouts.

Edwards is one guy I don't want the Cavs to draft even if he fell to 5. Hopefully they would trade the pick to a team willing to take a swing on him if that happens. Actually I prefer Okoro over Edwards (yeah I know I'm probably way in the minority on that and will concede that Edwards likely has the higher ceiling but the chances he gets there are slim based on both the stats and the eye test). The last thing we need to draft is an inefficient Dion type that needs the ball in his hands offensively. I'll take the lower usage guy who can help you win in other ways.

Went way off topic..anyway I'm fine with Okongwu, Okoro or Avdija for the Cavs assuming they pick at 5. Maybe someone like Vassell if they trade down a few slots or even Green if they trade down way further. Basically the same guys we've been discussing for 6 months now.
 
I'd definitely make a case for Haliburton and Vassell. Not even super high on Avdija, but in terms of NBA-readiness, yeah, he probably beats Okongwu too. Could also make a case for Toppin, on the grounds that he just won the Wooden Award while Okongwu didn't even manage Pac-12 Freshman of the year. If Okongwu is better than all of those guys right now, and then you additionally factor in his potential for further improvement due to his age and developing offensive skillset, I think he's the clear #1 guy in this draft. But I don't think that's the case...I buy his upside, but don't think he'll be a high-impact guy anytime soon.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that Okongwu is better than all those guys right now. His skill set is more limited. I'm just saying that the skills he does have at this point are at least at NBA role-player level for a big guy. Good defender, rim protector, can run the floor, and can hit enough FT's to stay on the floor.

He still has a lot of development to go to become more than a role player.
 

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