Currently, the Cleveland Cavaliers rank 29th on defense in this postponed season of 2019/20. Their draft efforts over the last two years have yielded some guards that can score, but they have no one who can guard NBA wings on the roster.
As the Cavs look to embrace year three of their rebuild next season, they need to identify and recruit guys who can be meaningful NBA players in the future. With the number four pick, they can bring in Issac Okoro.
Okoro would probably the best wing defender on the Cavs if he was on the team today.
Okoro, as profiled earlier this month, is a six-foot-six wing out of Auburn. He is energetic, athletic and has a really high motor on both ends of the floor. He is strong for a wing, at 225 pounds, and he uses this strength to bully smaller opponents on regular jaunts to the rim. Offensively he loves to get out in transition.
He is a lob threat because of his crazy hops, and he can initiate offense in the open court, even if his handle does need to tighten up a bit. His shot does need work too, as he only shoots 29 percent from three and 65 percent from the line.
Defensively, he is great on the ball. He gets over screens easily, can defend both smaller, quicker players and bigger ones too. He has great hands and excellent anticipation. He has developing skills as a help defender but will need to work hard on this part of the game.
Okoro’s offensive game is still blossoming, but he is the defensive piece the Cavs so desperately crave.