Sam Vecenie of The Athletic is putting up his annual ranking of the NBA's 50 best young players, meaning first round picks on their rookie contracts and second rounders on their first contracts. He got some help from over a dozen NBA executives and scouts. Isaac Okoro is ranked #38. Jarrett Allen is at #43. I put his write-up in his thread.
38. Isaac Okoro | 6-6 wing, 19 years old | Cleveland Cavaliers | Contract: 4 years, $29.1 million, last two years team options | PR: Drafted in 2020
I had Okoro at No. 5 on my board entering the draft, largely because I really believed in his defense and ability to play a role early in his NBA career. His sheer presence on the court makes teams better because he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win, including get physical and tough on defense while doing the dirty work. I thought pre-draft that he profiled as a potential borderline All-Defense wing at some point because of the intersection of his strength and quickness, his willingness to battle and his instincts in help. So far, all of that has come to fruition for the Cavaliers and then some.
Okoro has immediately entered the starting lineup and been a huge part of the early-season success they had on that end prior to Larry Nance Jr. going out. Over the last two years, Cleveland genuinely had one of the worst defenses in NBA history. They finished dead last in 2019 and second-to-last in 2020 in defensive efficiency. About a quarter of the way through the 2020-21 season, the Cavaliers had a top-10 defense. In large part, that was because coach J.B. Bickerstaff has them fighting and scratching to get through every screen while staying connected in rotation on the back end. But Okoro and Larry Nance Jr. are the linchpins who hold it together. I’d bet we see real improvement after Nance returns. The rookie is playing a ridiculous 36 minutes per night and taking on every single tough perimeter defensive assignment imaginable. He singlehandedly turned a game against the Grizzlies in the second half with ridiculous on-ball defensive pressure, including a number of deflections and blocks that led to run-outs for the Cavs’ offense. Pay special attention to the way he locks and trails to get through off-ball screening actions. It’s superb for even a seasoned veteran. Then, he’ll fight to get over the top of on-ball screens, and he’s terrific at bumping offensive players without fouling so they know his presence is there.
How far Okoro gets in the NBA is going to come down to his offense. He’s already valuable because of the defense, but to be a true difference-maker, he’s either going to need to shoot it or become an on-ball creator himself. He’s definitely not a shooter yet, but I do think there is some on-ball upside. He sees the court well and can handle it for a teenage wing. His jumper looks a bit better off the bounce than it does off the catch. If he can even become an average offensive NBA player, he’ll skyrocket up this list because of the value he could hold in the playoffs as an energy defender against the kind of tough, big wings who tend to succeed in the playoffs. But he needs to show some signs on that end first.
