Scott Gleeson, Jeff Zillgitt, and Mark Medina contributed to this latest mock draft, which occurs under 20 days before the virtual draft, in which a lot of trades are expected but no one knows where the trades are going to come from. Jan 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans forward Onyeka Okongwu (21) dunks the ball in the first half of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Galen Center. The 6’9″ forward has drawn comparisons to Bam Adebayo and the similarities are obvious. Defense is the primary contribution the Warriors will be looking for from the center position next season, and Okongwu demonstrates much more polish on that end of the court than Wiseman. One thing that Adebayo does as well as any player in the NBA is dunk off of two feet. Despite being just 6-foot-9, Okongwu projects as an elite rim protector and has a 7-foot-2 wingspan, while already having the offensive skillset the Warriors are looking for in the frontcourt. The offense will run through Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, and those two will have very fresh legs after the Warriors weren’t invited to the NBA bubble in Orlando. Okongwu is a versatile big man with high-level athleticism and defensive capabilities. This isn't to say that Okongwu will come into the NBA and be Bam Adebayo-lite right from the get-go. Okongwu feels that pressure, knows there must be someone open and skips it across the floor, delivering a dime to his teammate for an open corner 3. Wiseman also could get played off the court against small-ball lineups, which are increasingly being used throughout the NBA. Coming into the NBA after one season at Kentucky, 19-year-old Adebayo was 6-foot-10 and 243 lbs. The 2020 NBA Draft is just a … Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports. Okongwu isn’t quite the same level of a passer, but has similar defensive qualities and could fill a very similar role within the Warriors’ scheme. At the start of the 2019-20 college basketball season, James Wiseman of Memphis was considered by many to be the clear top big man in this class, with a … Wiseman potentially could have a higher ceiling, but like Edwards, he'll likely need ample time to adapt to the NBA after such a limited college career. Feeling the extra pressure, Adebayo takes two dribbles to try and give himself a better look at the rim but instead sees a wide open Jae Crowder on the perimeter, skipping the ball out for an easy 3. While Adebayo has evolved into a point-centre in the NBA, averaging a career-high 5.1 assists per game during his first All-Star season, he wasn't that type of playmaker in college. "We have a similar body, similar athleticism. The defenders never even had a chance. The same could be said for Adebayo, who can truly defend 1-through-5 at the NBA level because of his agility and length as a big man. Okongwu put together a full season of elite production at the Division I level, and could slide in and anchor the Warriors’ defense alongside Draymond Green. Above all else, his wide frame makes him a brick wall that can set screens and roll quickly to the rim. However, this is a concern for other defensive prospects like Isaac Okoro and Devin Vassell as well. But we don’t live in an alternate universe (although 2020 certainly has felt that way) and luckily for Warriors fans, that decision rests with general manager Bob Myers come Nov. 18. Cleveland has been the bottom-ranked defensive team for two straight years and this isn’t going to change anytime soon unless they bring in a prospect such as Okongwu. Wiseman potentially could have a higher ceiling, but like Edwards, he'll likely need ample time to adapt to the NBA after such a limited college career. But is he even the best big man option for the Warriors at No. with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. The Kentucky product certainly had his moments as a passer, but averaging less than one assist per game (0.8), it's hard to believe anyone expected him to become the savvy playmaker he is today. The only thing holding back Okongwu is his shooting stroke. He will help improve their league-worst defense and add an interesting wrinkle to their offensive attack that is desperate for an athletic center that can run the floor. This just shows how important it is for players to be able to defend more than just the paint in the modern NBA. Not to mention, Okongwu has shown flare as a playmaker. Cleveland Cavaliers: Expectations are sky-high for Kevin Porter Jr. Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 ways Darius Garland can become a star. Okongwu's length and athleticism combined with his quick feet, positioning and defensive instincts make him quite the defender. A consistent comparison for Okongwu has been Bam Adebayo, the Miami Heat big man who broke out and was one of the stars of the NBA bubble, helping to lead a scrappy team to the Finals. By using NBA sites, you are agreeing to our revised Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Use<\/a>, including our Cookie Policy<\/a>"; It's well known that USC freshman Onyeka Okongwu has shades of Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo in his game. He has a good understanding of the game and can be a difference-maker for the Cavs playing in the middle of the floor and dishing to shooters/cutters. Add to it their energy on the glass and ability to run the floor, plus similarities in their raw passing skills coming out of college, and it's a match made in player comparison heaven. Okongwu is similar in that sense - he's not yet pushing the ball in transition or having an entire offence run through him in the high post like you'll see with Adebayo at the NBA level, but he's made some passes that make you think he could one day get there. Okongwu also is used to not being the No. Even the presence of Andre Drummond didn’t help them improve as their Defensive Rating actually dipped with him on the floor. The Warriors are in a much different situation than just about every other team holding a top-five pick, as Golden State expects to be a championship contender right away in 2020-21, while the teams at the top of the lottery are rebuilding and/or looking for a cornerstone and face of the franchise in this draft. With those attributes, the 6-foot-9 centre is incredibly versatile in being able to hang with quicker guards around the perimeter - something crucial for today's pick-and-roll, mismatch-hunting NBA. 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Because of his great hands and elite hops, it turns into an electric dunk. The 2020 NBA Draft is just a few weeks away and there is no clear consensus on who the Cleveland Cavaliers are most interested in. Before even talking about their play style, the measurables match up. 1 option on offense, as he played his high school basketball alongside the trio of Ball brothers at Chino Hills. His soft touch makes it so he doesn't have to rely on getting all the way to the rim, but as you just saw, sometimes that's all that is necessary. Kids News: How did Jamal Murray make it to the NBA? Onyeka Okongwu is one of the best prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft. You see something similar from Adebayo here: He gets the ball in the post and commands the eyes of all five defenders. Take a look at three plays that help paint that picture more clearly. Once he sets a screen and positions himself to receive a pass from the ball handler, it takes Adebayo virtually no time to explode toward the rim for a dunk. Understandably, the Warriors have done their due diligence on a multitude of potential lottery picks, but considering the team’s lack of depth in the frontcourt, a big man like Wiseman seems to make the most sense. The Cleveland Cavaliers should be looking at Onyeka Okongwu as the prospect with the highest potential to help them in the 2020 NBA Draft. Your privacy is safe with us. They're both explosive big men with smooth footwork, good hands and a soft touch in the paint, as well as high IQ defenders who have great instincts for protecting the rim. ); Why Okongwu is better big man for Warriors than Wiseman, Steph believes Warriors 'need some size' in 2020 draft. These factors should push Okongwu over the top and make him the Cleveland Cavaliers’ main target in the NBA draft at No. They have nearly identical builds, only Okongwu has a longer wingspan and more agility on the perimeter. 50 Greatest Players Without a Championship, 50 Greatest Players Not In The Hall of Fame, Most Clutch Player From Each Team’s History, Best Shot Blocker From Each Team’s History, Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Draft: Concern on Devin Vassell's shot, TJ Watt Gets Into Heated Argument With Steelers Defensive Coordinator, Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 positive takeaways from minicamp so far. Coming into the NBA after one season at USC, 19-year-old Okongwu is listed at 6-foot-9 and 245 lbs. This play from the regular season shows just how comfortable he is defending on the perimeter, picking up rookie guard Darius Garland in transition: Garland makes his move to get by but Adebayo is quick enough to stay on his hip and then uses his long wingspan to recover and come up with the block.
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