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

[J_J]

From Chris Fedor

The Cavs are planning to work on Okoro’s outside shot more this summer while also giving him playmaking responsibilities on offense. Because of their belief in his passing and decision-making, they want to use him in pick-and-rolls, post-ups and DHOs (dribble handoffs) as opposed to having him be a static floor-spacer. Okoro, who is expected to make a few appearances at summer league in August, averaged 16.6 points and 3.0 assists in May. He finished with six consecutive double-figure scoring games.

I’m glad to see they want Okoro in PnRs, post ups, and DHOs. I thought he excels in PnRs especially and didn’t get to see till late in the season. It will be an interesting sophomore year for him and looking forward to his development.

 

[Mcreek]

Okoro, who is expected to make a few appearances at summer league in August, averaged 16.6 points and 3.0 assists in May. He finished with six consecutive double-figure scoring games.

With His work ethic I wouldnt be surprised to see a Garland type sophmore year and most improved player

BTW does anyone know who will be on the summer league roster from the current team?

 

[DarNoor]

I have been on the fence with Altman. But, i think he should get another chance just because of the improvement with we have seen with Garland, Sexton, and Okoro. Let's see what they can do with another year.

 

[I'mWithDan]

From Chris Fedor

The Cavs are planning to work on Okoro’s outside shot more this summer while also giving him playmaking responsibilities on offense. Because of their belief in his passing and decision-making, they want to use him in pick-and-rolls, post-ups and DHOs (dribble handoffs) as opposed to having him be a static floor-spacer. Okoro, who is expected to make a few appearances at summer league in August, averaged 16.6 points and 3.0 assists in May. He finished with six consecutive double-figure scoring games.

I’m glad to see they want Okoro in PnRs, post ups, and DHOs. I thought he excels in PnRs especially and didn’t get to see till late in the season. It will be an interesting sophomore year for him and looking forward to his development.

This is nice in theory but we have two completely ball dominant guards.

The number of available possessions on the ball for Okoro is already small.

I also don't know that it is justified to take possessions away from either Sexton or Garland, relative to their scoring arc thus far and their ages.

Seems like a tough one for me......to try to develop an additional playmaker that hasn't really proven he can shoot or dribble as a primary on ball player.

It is good to hear they are thinking about it......I just don't think it is something that will actually happen. Guess we'll see.

 

[Cavatt]

This is nice in theory but we have two completely ball dominant guards.

The number of available possessions on the ball for Okoro is already small.

I also don't know that it is justified to take possessions away from either Sexton or Garland, relative to their scoring arc thus far and their ages.

Seems like a tough one for me......to try to develop an additional playmaker that hasn't really proven he can shoot or dribble as a primary on ball player.

It is good to hear they are thinking about it......I just don't think it is something that will actually happen. Guess we'll see.

I think they are priming the pump to get a larger wing to start at the 3 and have Okoro come off the bench. Maybe running the second unit with Sexton at times as that pairing looked good in transition. Maybe they give Okoro 10 min a game as the backup point.

He still may end up starting at the 3 down the road if Sexland is broken up, and maybe Kuminga, Barnes or Cade take the starting 4 job.

I would not have been in favor of benching him until the end of the season when he showed some stuff I didn't think he was ready for. It seems to me they are going to put him in the position they wanted for KPJ.

There are some indicators, his decision making in the pick and roll, and his ability to hit 3's off the dribble which seemed odd all year. He has some playmaking wing stuff. I think you are right though that he won't be able to develop that in the starting lineup, whereas a guy like Barnes, that is already an integral part of his game.

 

[I'mWithDan]

I think they are priming the pump to get a larger wing to start at the 3 and have Okoro come off the bench. Maybe running the second unit with Sexton at times as that pairing looked good in transition. Maybe they give Okoro 10 min a game as the backup point.

He still may end up starting at the 3 down the road if Sexland is broken up, and maybe Kuminga, Barnes or Cade take the starting 4 job.

I would not have been in favor of benching him until the end of the season when he showed some stuff I didn't think he was ready for. It seems to me they are going to put him in the position they wanted for KPJ.

There are some indicators, his decision making in the pick and roll, and his ability to hit 3's off the dribble which seemed odd all year. He has some playmaking wing stuff. I think you are right though that he won't be able to develop that in the starting lineup, whereas a guy like Barnes, that is already an integral part of his game.

For sure. I'm more bullish on him after a year of development.......but I more so see him as a better offensive version of someone like Thybulle. Really impactful defender......and then at least interesting on offense. But we probably are being less realistic if we think it is also an on ball playmaker in that archetype. It is just a skill that is super hard to learn at the NBA level......and unless we are clearing out space for that development, I worry he's going to get stuck in the middle.

In year 2, I really just want to see him shoot better. Relative to his age and defensive skill, really, the swing skill is shooting to me. Then the shooting would unlock more playmaking in year 3.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I think they are priming the pump to get a larger wing to start at the 3 and have Okoro come off the bench. Maybe running the second unit with Sexton at times as that pairing looked good in transition. Maybe they give Okoro 10 min a game as the backup point.

He still may end up starting at the 3 down the road if Sexland is broken up, and maybe Kuminga, Barnes or Cade take the starting 4 job.

I would not have been in favor of benching him until the end of the season when he showed some stuff I didn't think he was ready for. It seems to me they are going to put him in the position they wanted for KPJ.

There are some indicators, his decision making in the pick and roll, and his ability to hit 3's off the dribble which seemed odd all year. He has some playmaking wing stuff. I think you are right though that he won't be able to develop that in the starting lineup, whereas a guy like Barnes, that is already an integral part of his game.

I still believe the future is Garland at the point with Okoro as the shooting guard. Is Sexton the sixth man or an asset in a trade? That's above my pay grade, but Okoro looks so much more impactful as a guard, especially on defense. The team cannot continue to lack length 1-4.

 

[I'mWithDan]

I still believe the future is Garland at the point with Okoro as the shooting guard. Is Sexton the sixth man or an asset in a trade? That's above my pay grade, but Okoro looks so much more impactful as a guard, especially on defense. The team cannot continue to lack length 1-4.

This is honestly what I am most curious to see unfold......as they kind of have to admit to making a more calculated mistake taking him as a 3.

If we inevitably wanted Garland to shift the point, Haluburton would have been such a better pair for him. But it is also possible that this is kind of the convergence of a few things they weren't 100% sure about prior to drafting and it is a bit of bad luck. It is very possible it wasn't as obvious internally that Garland is more of an engine like candidate on offense, as his year 1 assessment was certainly harder coming off an injury and having the season shortened by covid.

I think just from a value exercise, you almost have to move Sexton vs. pushing him to the bench. Moving him to the bench probably both makes him unhappy and devalues him as an asset.

 

[chrisrich91]

I still believe the future is Garland at the point with Okoro as the shooting guard. Is Sexton the sixth man or an asset in a trade? That's above my pay grade, but Okoro looks so much more impactful as a guard, especially on defense. The team cannot continue to lack length 1-4.

Okoro as the shooting guard seems like the move...but the ceiling of that type of starting lineup would likely be dictated by his evolution as a shooter.

Garland - Okoro - Cunningham at the 1-2-3 is my dream. All very capable as pick n' roll ball handlers but all with the ability to play off the ball as well. Super versatile and would be a perimeter group worth spending money on vets to flank.

 

[Ozone]

Okoro proved he is better on ball when Garland sat to close out the season. This was inevitable and not news imo.

 

[inliner311]

This is honestly what I am most curious to see unfold......as they kind of have to admit to making a more calculated mistake taking him as a 3.

If we inevitably wanted Garland to shift the point, Haluburton would have been such a better pair for him. But it is also possible that this is kind of the convergence of a few things they weren't 100% sure about prior to drafting and it is a bit of bad luck. It is very possible it wasn't as obvious internally that Garland is more of an engine like candidate on offense, as his year 1 assessment was certainly harder coming off an injury and having the season shortened by covid.

I think just from a value exercise, you almost have to move Sexton vs. pushing him to the bench. Moving him to the bench probably both makes him unhappy and devalues him as an asset.

If we want to keep both Sexton and Okoro, while keeping them happy, I think the time is now to move Okoro to the bench. If we draft a wing who is more offensively talented, it can be justified for Okoro to come off the bench.

Long term, I think it easier to have Okoro come off the bench because of his skill set. Unless he makes multiple major leaps on offense, he can look around the league and see guys of his skill set playing major minutes and coming off the bench.

This doesn't mean we have to play major minutes with Sexton and Garland together because they both start. We ultimately should find multiple rotations that work and give us different looks. If Garland and Okoro together play well together then they can play major minutes together.

I believe making all these young guys work is more about figure out rotations and lineups. We need to move away from hockey style lineup changes and really find alot more workable lineups.

 

[Kouki]

Okoro's best asset is his defense, and in that respect it makes the most sense to start him so he gets the most minutes against the opposing team's best wing.

I'm still not sold on this "Okoro is absolutely a 3 and not a 2" thing either...I think he will prove next year that his relative lack of size at the 3 isn't an issue defensively.

 

[ryanf]

Okoro's best asset is his defense, and in that respect it makes the most sense to start him so he gets the most minutes against the opposing team's best wing.

I'm still not sold on this "Okoro is absolutely a 3 and not a 2" thing either...I think he will prove next year that his relative lack of size at the 3 isn't an issue defensively.

crowder is shorter than okoro by a hair and defends lebron and giannis consistently. he even plays PF for the suns at times. okoro should be ok with crowder as his archetype for defense.

 

[Cavatt]

I still believe the future is Garland at the point with Okoro as the shooting guard. Is Sexton the sixth man or an asset in a trade? That's above my pay grade, but Okoro looks so much more impactful as a guard, especially on defense. The team cannot continue to lack length 1-4.

I agree with Imwithdan. You can't bring Sexton off the bench. He is too good and no one is likely to outplay him unless they absolutely hit it out of the park with maybe Green? Okoro would have to be undeniably better than Sexton next year and that seems impossible.

I just don't think you can pay Sexton what he is worth and bring him off the bench.

 

[Willard513]

I agree with Imwithdan. You can't bring Sexton off the bench. He is too good and no one is likely to outplay him unless they absolutely hit it out of the park with maybe Green? Okoro would have to be undeniably better than Sexton next year and that seems impossible.

I just don't think you can pay Sexton what he is worth and bring him off the bench.

I actually agree with this but the measure has to be more than scoring right?

I would assume okoro is poised for more of a breakout compared to last year with an nba off-season and if he gets to 13-15/4/4 with great to potential all defensive 2nd team defense vs 25/3/2 and a defensive sieve? Where do we go with that? What’s better for the team?

Our draft pick and how Darius Garland looks would probably make this decision for us but my general point is I think we need to look at more than “He iS aN EliTE ScOrER ThOUgh” on a bad team and start looking at real impact in other ways.

EAT THAT ASS: Before the sexton fans crucify me, I still don’t think they should trade him and he may be much much better than okoro next year, the above was just a scenario where the impacts may be similar but in different ways. Best case scenario is both of them take big leaps and we keep them both.