Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 options with No. 5 pick in NBA Draft

3. Isaac Okoro

It’s impossible to talk about the Cavaliers’ biggest needs without mentioning defense. Any team with an undersized backcourt is going to get killed on this end of the floor and it doesn’t help that the franchise has zero capable wing defenders in their arsenal.

Look at any successful team in the league that has an undersized guard and you will find that each of them has a quality perimeter defender to counteract this weakness. The Golden State Warriors have Klay Thompson to account for Stephen Curry. The Boston Celtics have Jaylen Brown for Kemba Walker and the Toronto Raptors have a number of talented defenders to cover for Fred VanVleet.

As for the Cavaliers, their best bet on defense last year was Matthew Dellavadova. While Delly provided some consistent effort and energy on the defensive end, he isn’t enough to make up for the Cavaliers ranking dead last in defensive rating this season.

This is why Isaac Okoro is the ideal fit for Cleveland. Okoro was a plus defender for Auburn in his freshman year and fought his way to a spot on the SEC All-Defensive team. Okoro is a 6’6″ wing with agile feet and fluid hips, allowing him to deter opponents on the perimeter.

It’s easy to see how Okoro would benefit the Cavaliers with his prowess as a defender. He will disrupt ball handlers and has a bright future as a help defender, recording nearly one block and one steal per game last year. Plugging him into the Cavs rotation should instantly buff their defense.

On offense, Okoro has some raw talent as a playmaker and shot creator. He was solid at finishing around the rim and displayed some touch in the mid-range but has room to grow as a 3-point shooter. Okoro shot below 30 percent from the 3-point line as a freshman, limiting his value in an ever-changing league.