With most teams now focused on the upcoming draft. Isaac Okoro is one player above everyone else who would fit perfectly with the Toronto Raptors.
For the Toronto Raptors, the season ended in a slight disappointment. The team just didn’t have enough firepower to overcome the Boston Celtics. Regardless, after being written off by many following Kawhi Leonard’s departures the Raptors put up a valiant title defense.
Now the focus shifts towards the offseason. There is uncertainty as to when the 2020-21 season will actually start. Adam Silver is on record saying it won’t happen until at least January. However, what is known is that this year’s draft will take place on November 18.
Given the ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, the NBA had laid out a plan to help teams prepare for the draft.
Teams are permitted to conduct virtual interviews. Prospects will be able to travel to NBA facilities for medical and agility testing. They are also permitted to conduct virtual “pro days”.
The draft interviews have already started. The Toronto Raptors have spoken to a number of prospects including Tyrell Terry, Jalen Smith, Isaiah Joe, and Zeke Nnaji. Draft boards are still in a state of flux. It remains to be seen who will be available when the Raptors are selecting at no. 29.
The Toronto Raptors have done an excellent job over the last few seasons of adding rotation players. Most of that has occurred outside the draft. Fred VanVleet, Terence Davis, Matt Thomas, and Chris Boucher all went undrafted. The Raptors haven’t had a first-round pick since 2017 when the team selected OG Anunoby.
The Raptors will have a number of options when the team in on the clock. Tyler Bey would provide another versatile, defensive-minded forward. Jahmi’us Ramsey could add some much-needed scoring off the bench. One option which hasn’t been discussed much is trading up in the draft.
Historically, Masai Ujiri has avoided making draft day trades. Back in 2013, Ujiri attempted to secure a first-round pick in order to select Giannis Antetokounmpo. It was also rumored that the Raptors had their sights on buying a pick in 2018 in order to draft Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, no trades actually came to fruition and both times the Raptors lost out on an intriguing, long-limbed prospect.
This year’s draft doesn’t have any surefire franchise-changing talent. But there are a number of strong prospects projected to be selected in the top 10.
LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and James Wiseman should be taken in some order at the top of the draft. Beyond those three, there will be a number of intriguing wings and guards left for teams to choose from.
For the Toronto Raptors, one player that checks off all of the right boxes is Auburn forward, Isaac Okoro.
Toronto Raptors NBA Draft: Who is Isaac Okoro?
Okoro committed to Auburn after considering offers from Florida, Florida State, Oregon, and Texas. He had a strong freshman season, averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game.
For his efforts, Okoro was named to the All-SEC Second Team, the SEC All-Freshman Team, and the SEC All-Defensive Team. At just 19 years old, Okoro is viewed as one of the top wing prospects in this year’s draft.
Okoro has the prototypical size for a modern NBA wing player. He stands 6-foot-6, along with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. Okoro has a strong, chiseled 225-pound pro body. He projects as a power wing, capable of guarding multiple positions at the next level.
There are a number of things to like about Okoro’s game, but at the top of the list is his ability as an on-ball defender. Okoro is also a strong team defender, who will make the proper adjustments and rotations as needed. Okoro’s tools, physicality, and competitiveness provide a baseline to develop into an All-NBA level defender.
Most young, defensive-minded forwards are often compared to Kawhi Leonard. However, Leonard has become a top-five player in the NBA. It is almost unfair at this point in time to use him as a measuring stick.
One step below Leonard would be players like Jaylen Brown and Jimmy Butler, who Okoro has also drawn comparisons to. They have similar measurements. Butler is 6-foot-6 (without shoes), with a 6-foot-7.5 wingspan. Brown, on the other hand, is 6-foot-5.25 (without shoes), with a much longer 6-foot-11.75 wingspan.
Much like Brown and Butler, Okoro has made a name for himself primarily on the defensive side of the ball. Okoro has the size and athleticism in order to shut down opposing wings. He should have a role from day one as a defensive stopper while Okoro’s offensive game develops.
Okoro’s defensive ability allows him to create deflections and get out in transition. He is a vertical lob threat, capable of creating highlight real dunks. Okoro is also an aggressive slasher who is a threat to score in the half-court.
The biggest question mark is whether Okoro can become a consistent outside shooter. He shot only 29 percent from three-point range this past season. Okoro was also less than impressive at the free-throw line, where he shot 67.2 percent.
The worry is that Okoro may be the next Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Kidd-Gilchrist was another highly regarded SEC prospect. He was eventually selected no. 2 overall by the Charlotte Bobcats. There were similar questions about whether Kidd-Gilchrist could be a consistent outside shooter. Unfortunately for him and the City of Charlotte, Kidd-Gilchrist never lived up to expectations.
The difference between Okoro and Kidd-Gilchrist is their shooting form. Kidd-Gilchrist has one of the most awkward looking shots in the entire NBA, whereas, Okoro has good form and a high release point. A little more practice and some time with an NBA shooting coach could work wonders for Okoro’s development.
After all, Jaylen Brown was a below-average shooter during his one season at California. Brown shot 29.4 percent from three-point range and 65.4 percent from the free-throw line. But Brown, like Okoro, is a tireless worker who has put the time in. This past season Brown shot 38.2 percent from 3, on 5.9 attempts per game. There is no reason to think that Okoro can’t follow a similar trajectory.
NBA Draft: What is the asking price for a late lottery pick?
There is no way that Okoro falls all the way to the end of the first round in order for the Raptors to take him. If Ujiri and Bobby Webster have any interest in drafting Okoro, they will have to trade up to do so.
There are a few teams at the top of the draft rumored to be open to moving their pick. Both the Detroit Pistons (7) and Phoenix Suns (10) are said to be looking to add a veteran presence in order to help compete for a playoff spot next season.
The Pistons still have Blake Griffin under contract for two more years. They have Derrick Rose coming back. Plus the team will look to re-sign Christian Wood. If the Pistons can add one or two more win-now pieces, they could make a push for one of the final playoff spots in the East.
Troy Weaver, the Pistons’ new general manager, rejected the idea of a rebuild. Dwane Casey has also said that the Pistons will “compete to win” in 2020-21. As such, adding another veteran player instead of a rookie would be a step in the right direction.
The Suns are in a similar position. After going 8-0 during their seeding games in the bubble at Disney World, the Suns are ready to take the next step.
The team already has a nice young core to build around. Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Kelly Oubre Jr. are all 24 or younger. Last season, the Suns saw how adding a player like Ricky Rubio helped both on and off the court. Adding another veteran with playoff experience should help Phoenix’s young players take that next step.
There have been a few trades over the last number of years that give you an idea as to what the asking price would be for a late lottery pick.
The Suns acquired Bridges (taken no. 10 overall) in a draft-night trade back in 2018 in exchange for the rights to Zhaire Smith (taken no. 16) and a future first-round pick.
The year before, the Sacramento Kings selected Zach Collins no. 10 overall and immediately traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers for the rights to Justin Jackson (no. 15) and Harry Giles (no. 20).
In 2016, the Kings made another draft-night deal. The Kings drafted Marquese Chriss at no. 8 and then traded him to the Suns in exchange for the draft rights to Georgios Papagiannis (selected no. 13) and Skal Labissiere (selected no. 28), and the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic, who was still playing overseas at the time.
Also in 2016, Taurean Prince was drafted no. 12 by the Utah Jazz. His rights were later traded to Atlanta as part of a three-team deal with the Jazz receiving George Hill from the Indiana Pacers and the Pacers receiving Jeff Teague from the Hawks.
What all this shows you is that securing a late lottery pick requires some combination of young rotation players and draft picks.
NBA Draft: How Isaac Okoro would fit with the Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors could use Norman Powell and the no. 29 picks in this year’s draft as a starting point for negotiations. Ultimately, a trade may also require one or two future second-round picks.
Powell has two years left on his contract, including a player option for 2021-22. He emerged in a larger role for the Raptors this season. In 26 games as a starter, Powell averaged 18.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
Both the Pistons and Suns project to have cap space available this offseason. Either team could absorb Powell’s contract without sending out anything in return. For the Pistons, Powell could slot in as the team’s starting two-guard. Out in Phoenix, Powell would have a similar role as with the Raptors, providing a scoring punch off the bench.
Given everything that Powell was able to accomplish this past season, fans may be wondering why would the Raptors want to give him up?
The main reason is that the Raptors (like a number of teams) have their sights set on the summer of 2021 when a certain two-time MVP can become a free agent. After signing Pascal Siakam to a max contract and new deals likely coming for Anunoby and VanVleet, the Raptors may not have the cap space available to keep Powell.
As such, it makes sense to move Powell while his trade value is at an all-time high. Moving him now would allow the Raptors to add another strong defensive player. One who would fit perfectly into a lineup that already features Siakam and Anunoby. It would give Toronto perhaps the best perimeter defense in the entire Association.
Adding a player like Okoro would give the Raptors more size on the wing. The team currently starts VanVleet and Kyle Lowry in the backcourt. The Raptors struggled in their second-round matchup against the Celtics due to the number of long, athletic players Brad Stevens had at his disposal.
Versatile wing players have become the most valuable commodity in the modern NBA. A team can never have too many switchable players, capable of playing multiple positions. Okoro has the tools to become one such player.
The Raptors have also had success with helping players become better shooters. As such, they may not have the same concerns as another team when it comes to selecting a player like Okoro.
Perhaps the best example is Pascal Siakam. Early in his career almost all of Siakam’s shot attempts were in the paint. He shot seven 3s as a rookie. But with time and a lot of hard work, that has slowly changed. This past season, Siakam took 365 and hit them at almost a 36 percent clip.
By adding a player like Okoro, the Raptors would be adding a high floor prospect, with a huge upside. At worst, Okoro can carve out a role as a defensive stopper. Best case scenario, Okoro can develop into a coveted two-way wing.
Okoro would be stepping into an optimal situation with the Toronto Raptors. It is similar to Leonard or Butler early in their respective careers. He would be joining a perennial playoff team that would give him time to improve and develop.
If the coaching staff is confident they can improve Okoro’s shot, then the Toronto Raptors would be adding one of the best two-way players in the draft. With his physical tools and athleticism, Okoro is someone who could be a starter in the league for years to come.