NBA Draft Preview: Could Isaac Okoro be the Kings’ small forward of the future?
Isaac Okoro has been making waves as one of the best defenders in the nation. In fact, many believe he is a lock to be the most valuable defensive player to enter the NBA next season.
That is good news for the Sacramento Kings, as the team has a serious lack of talent on that side of the ball, especially on the wing. Okoro could be a great long-term answer at small forward for the Kings.
Of course, there is no way to know if Okoro will even be an option for Sacramento. He has a wide range of predicted outcomes. Some scouts have him in their top four, while others project him outside of the lottery altogether.
With ping pong balls set to shake up the first 14 draft slots and the ever-present possibility of last-minute trades, the Kings need to do their homework on the 6-foot-6, 225-pound freshman from Auburn University.
STRENGTHS
Okoro has all the makings of a legitimate lockdown defender. He has a high IQ, quick hands, quick feet and a strong, athletic body. He can be counted on to slow down and even smother quality offensive players. In time, Okoro could cause headaches for the best scorers in the NBA.
Okoro’s off-ball defense almost matches his one-on-one ability. He reads passes well and can come out of nowhere to seal off the lane and stop a drive. He understands when to rotate and is quick on the switch. His tools allow him to defend shooting guards and small forwards with ease. He can even match up with some point guards and power forwards.
When it comes to offense, Okoro’s strengths are fewer. His athleticism, physicality and body control make him a strong slasher and cutter. Once he gets to the cup, he displays great touch on finishes. Okoro does a great job getting to the line in those situations as well. He understands his strengths and his shot selection always helps his team.
His high basketball IQ doesn’t only show up on defense. He sees the court well as a passer and can make some high-level reads. His passing will need work as he adjusts to the speed, size and skill of the NBA. He’ll never be able to run a starting offense, but Okoro could become a solid secondary or tertiary initiator.
WEAKNESSES
Okoro’s Achilles’ heel is shooting. If he could develop a consistent deep ball, Okoro would be a nearly perfect 3-and-D prospect. But alas, he is shooting only 27.1 percent on 3-pointers and 66.4 percent on free throws this season. Those numbers are not outliers, as they are consistent with his output before entering college. His midrange game is a work in progress as well.
Without a reliable shot, questions arise about his ability to create for himself. He has a decent handle for a small forward, but without the threat of a pull-up, defenders can sag off him and lock him out of the paint. If he’s going to be a useful scorer, he will need to develop a jumper or rely on others to set him up off cuts to the basket and in transition.
His size may also cause him some of his strengths in college to vanish in the NBA. He has been successful scoring in the post and protecting the rim with Auburn. But both of those skills are at risk of disappearing against a much larger and stronger filed of competition. His rebounding is also likely to be average at best for his position.
The biggest issue with Okoro is not one singular thing, but rather how ordinary an entire half of his game feels. He has no elite offensive skill. Depending on how he develops, he may not even have any above-average offensive skills. That is very concerning, especially for a player that could be picked in the top four.
FIT WITH THE KINGS
On paper, the Kings need an elite wing defender more than any other type of player. There is no doubt Okoro is exactly that. He would fit in perfectly as a wing stopper. The Kings have a young point guard in De’Aaron Fox, a young big man in Marvin Bagley, and plenty of shooting around them. Okoro could slide right in as an ace defender.
But the question arises again: Is it ever smart to draft based on fit? Many Kings fans believe that mindset has led to mistakes in the past, including passing on superstar Luka Doncic in 2018.
If the Kings move up in the draft through the lottery or a trade, they should absolutely not draft for fit. The very highest picks should always be made based on best overall player available. If you think there is a guy that could transform your franchise, then you must draft them, regardless of how they would work with their teammates.
However, if the Kings do not move up in the draft and they end up picking in the late lottery, then fit can be considered. And with so many guards projected in that area, Okoro could make the most sense among those available. Fit can and should be used as a tiebreaker among non-elite prospects.
To put it simply, if the Kings move up in the draft, Okoro would be a reach. But if they stay put and Okoro falls to them, he would be a home run.