6 third-year NBA players that are in desperate need of a huge 2022-23 season

Third-year NBA wing Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers

The No. 5 overall pick from the 2020 draft, Isaac Okoro, has so far not played like a top-five draft pick during his brief tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 6’5″ forward has struggled greatly on offense in the NBA, but his athleticism and solid defense enabled him to serve as a starter for last season’s squad.

That may not be the case this year as reports out of training camp peg Okoro losing his starting job to Caris LeVert (or possibly even Dean Wade). Patience is starting to wear thin on Okoro, especially with the team pushing all their chips to the middle of the table this summer by acquiring Donovan Mitchell in a clear win-now move.

If Okoro can’t speed up his growth and start showing he can play a complete game, it’s going to be hard to keep him on the floor. Guys like Mitchell, LeVert, Wade, Cedi Osman, and Darius Garland all have a better argument to be on the floor than Okoro until he can be consistent shooting the ball.

Third-year NBA wing Deni Avdija, Washington Wizards

Deni Avdija had his rookie year cut short due to injuries and managed to come back last season to make an appearance in all 82 games. It gave the Washington Wizards a clear look at what Avdija is capable of on the court and how he might best be utilized alongside guys like Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma.

Avdija, like so many other young players on this list, has struggled shooting the ball — particularly from deep. It makes it so much easier for opposing defenses to cover you if they know they can sag off you and keep you from penetrating the paint.

With the Wizards bringing in Will Barton this offseason and Rui Hachimura healthy and ready to compete for a full season, it’s going to be tough for Avdija to get extended minutes until that shot develops into something more threatening than it is now.

Avdija is trending in the right direction, having nearly improved in almost all major statistical categories from his rookie season to last season, but there’s increasing pressure for the former No. 9 overall pick to start producing at a consistent rate for a team looking to get back to the playoffs for just the second time in the last five seasons.