Isaac Okoro, Auburn, Wing
The first player on our list is a guy that draft pundits seem to be a little less settled on. Some saying he could be a top-five pick, others saying he might slip towards the end of the lottery.
Regardless of his NBA stock, the one thing that you will not have to worry about with Okoro is his defense. Considered one of the top defenders in this year’s draft, Isaac Okoro brings tenacious energy to the floor and can match up with opposing teams’ best players.
He is very quick side to side and has enough strength to stay in front of some bigger wings/forwards.
He has a very similar play style to Celtics guard, Marcus Smart, although Okoro a bit bigger. They are physical on the defensive end and make opponents work whether defending on the ball or off.
Okoro is also a good slasher and does a good job of using his size and athleticism to get to the basket. He is a quality finisher around the rim and has excellent body control, especially for somebody his size.
The biggest question mark surrounding Okoro is all about his jump shot. He shot just 28 percent from three as a freshman at Auburn, and his mechanics need some work. In today’s NBA, you need to be able to shoot to see the court for an extended time, so this is something he will need to work hard at once he gets into camp.
Okoro would improve the Wizards’ awful defense and can be a useful piece from day one. But they will need to be smart about how they develop his shooting if they do decide to draft him.
The Wizards already have a few questionable shooters at the wing position, and adding another could backfire.
However, if they can develop his shooting so that he is at least an average NBA shooter, Isaac Okoro would be a great fit in DC.