Tag: Isaac Okoro

2020 NBA aggregate mock draft 8.0: Draft day ranges for top prospects

The 2020 NBA draft is fairly unpredictable and prospects have wider ranges in where they could get selected when it is all said and done. 

The 2020 NBA draft is fairly unpredictable and prospects have wider ranges in where they could get selected when it is all said and done.

We looked at mock drafts from NBADraft.net, ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, The Ringer, Stadium, SI.com, USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire, USA Today and Yahoo to give us a more clear understanding of consensus rankings and projections.

This also provided context for realistic high-end and low-end predictions for the players most often included in mock drafts.

Please note that the range included for each player is not based on our own reporting or intel and it only reflects the data pulled from the various mock drafts.

The full list of our latest aggregate mock draft rankings can be found here. HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.

Knicks have been ‘very inquisitive’ on Isaac Okoro ahead of NBA Draft

Okoro was named to the All-SEC Second Team after averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists last season at Auburn.

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Ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks have done a great deal of homework on former Auburn Tigers forward Isaac Okoro and could target the 19-year-old with the eighth overall pick as a result.

Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl told Ian Begley of SNY that the Knicks have talked to strength coaches, trainers and assistant coaches during the pre-draft process in an attempt to gain as much intel as possible on Okoro, which isn’t uncommon ahead of the NBA Draft.

Okoro was named to the All-SEC Second Team after averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists last season. He has emerged as perhaps the top defender in the draft and is projected to be a top-10 pick but Pearl believes Okoro will be off the board when the Knicks are on the clock.

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The Knicks have been linked to quite a few prospects ahead of the NBA Draft, including LaMelo Ball, R.J. Hampton and Immanuel Quickley among others. Trying to pinpoint which direction they will go, though, has been difficult since they are also rumored into wanting to trade down.

Of course, teams often keep things close to the vest and will often create misinformation in order to not tip their hand ahead of the draft but the apparent interest in Okoro appears to be real after speaking with several personnel members at Auburn.

Okoro projects to be a great addition at the next level given his defensive ability and scoring inside of the paint. He will need to work on improving his shot but it appears as though he is he has the necessary tools to be an impact player.

The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Nov. 18.

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Warriors land Auburn’s Isaac Okoro after blockbuster trade with Pacers in latest Bleacher Report NBA Mock Draft

In the latest NBA Mock Draft from Bleacher Report, the Warriors pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Pacers for Myles Turner and the No. 6 pick.

The end of the NBA Finals has turned the page to the sweet spot of draft season. After an extended layoff, the Golden State Warriors are just a little over a month away from being on the clock with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2020 draft.

Although the draft is nearing, there’s still little clarity on Bob Myers and Steve Kerr’s plan for the Warriors’ first pick in the top five since 2002. Does Golden State use the choice on a prospect that can contribute right away? Do they eye a prospect with high potential for the future? If there isn’t a player that fits either of these descriptions, the Warriors could opt to move the pick on draft night.

In Bleacher Report’s latest NBA Mock Draft, Jonathan Wasserman explores the idea of Golden State trading the pick. In Wasserman’s mock, the Warriors link up with the Atlanta Hawks and the Indiana Pacers for a blockbuster deal.

In the mock trade, the Warriors land center Myles Turner from Indiana and the No. 6 overall pick from Atlanta for the No. 2 pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves 2021 first-round pick and Andrew Wiggins. Minnesota’s 2021 pick and Wiggins end up in Atlant as part of a three-team trade.

While both Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney have served as intriguing options for Golden State’s frontcourt in the past, Turner’s arrival gives Golden State a dynamic presence on the inside.

At only 24-years-old, the Texas Longhorns product has already recorded five seasons in the NBA. Despite Turner’s resume, his production has steadily declined after a breakout season in 2015-17. Last season, the 6-foot-11 big man averaged 12.1 points on 45.7% shooting with 6.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

There’s no doubt Turner has a skill set that can help Golden State, but if he does land in the Bay Area, it will be on Kerr and company to unlock his true potential.

After acquiring Turner, the Warriors picked up Auburn’s Isaac Okoro with the No. 6 overall pick in the Bleacher Report mock draft. According to Wasserman, the Auburn wing has a “convincing defensive profile.”

Via Bleacher Report:

He has a convincing defensive profile with a strong, 6’6″ frame, powerful legs, quick feet and discipline. And though not a creator or reliable shooter, Okoro shot 60.7 percent inside the arc, scoring by driving, cutting and capitalizing on his strength and footwork in the post.

View the rest of Bleacher Report’s NBA mock draft here.

During his freshman season with Bruce Pearl at Auburn, the 19-year-old averaged 12.9 points on 51.4% shooting from the field with 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per contest.

In the Rookie Wire’s pre-combine NBA Draft Big Board 4.0, the Second-Team All-SEC member came in at No. 8 in the top 100. According to Bryan Kalbrosky, Okoro is an athletic “defensive wunderkind” on the perimeter.

Via Rookie Wire:

Auburn’s Isaac Okoro is arguably the most athletic player in the 2020 NBA Draft and as a defensive wunderkind, he can guard the perimeter and the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets. He has excelled when driving to the basket as a finisher on offense, but an unproven ability to score otherwise will limit what he can be in the NBA until further developed.

With the Warriors’ lack of athleticism paired with inconsistent options in the frontcourt, Myers and Kerr could fill two areas of need with Bleacher Report’s proposed draft-night deal.

However, the loss of Wiggins erases a scoring option for Kerr’s offense. Without Wiggins, the pressure will fall on Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to take care of a majority of scoring on the wing. If they decide to move the 2014 first overall pick, the Warriors will need to make a play for a scoring threat in free agency.

Speculation aside, Kerr and Myers will only have the next month to put the finishing touches on their highly-anticipated draft-day plan.

Isaac Okoro in top 10 of latest Rookie Wire’s NBA draft big board

The former Auburn star is projected to go in the top 10 of the 2020 NBA Draft.

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The 2020 NBA Draft should have happened already but due to COVID-19 affecting the schedule of the league’s regular season, with the finals about to begin between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, it was moved to November 18.

It hasn’t made a difference in Isaac Okoro’s draft stock. In the latest NBA draft big board by The Rookie Wire, the former Auburn star and one-and-done is listed as the eighth best player available.

From Rookie Wire:

Wing, 6-foot-6, 19 years old

CONSENSUS PROJECTION: Top 10

REPRESENTATION: Young Money APAA

Auburn’s Isaac Okoro is arguably the most athletic player in the 2020 NBA Draft and as a defensive wunderkind, he can guard the perimeter and the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets. He has excelled when driving to the basket as a finisher on offense, but an unproven ability to score otherwise will limit what he can be in the NBA until further developed.

Also listed in the top 100 is Austin Wiley who comes in at No. 98.

Auburn basketball: Why JT Thor is a perfect fit on the Plains

Auburn freshman JT Thor will be a force for the Tigers.

Auburn freshman forward JT Thor has the kind of growth mindset that fits perfectly in Bruce Pearl’s program. It’s a mentality that harks back to the 2017 and 2018 teams who found great success when they were dramatically underestimated.

The rising star discussed a few of his favorite things as well as his playing career, both past and present, with AuburnTigers.com’s Greg Ostendorf earlier this week.

Here’s a few quick facts:

  • Thor’s favorite movie is Scarface
  • He loves his mom’s cooking
  • He intends to major in Business Marketing
  • Thor models his game after Kevin Durant and says the 31-year old Nets forward was an inspiration to him growing up
  • Yes, his favorite Marvel character is Thor not just because they share the same name, but because they, “can both drop the hammer. That thunderous dunk.”

Another interesting fact is that he grew up in Alaska before eventually moving to Norcross, Georgia. He wants everyone to know that in Alaska it does not snow there every single day and that while the winters are brutal the summers are actually very sunny and warm.

So, how does a kid who was born in Nebraska and raised in Alaska end up at Auburn?

According to him it all started on February 8, 2020 when the four star recruit attended the LSU vs Auburn basketball game on his first unofficial visit.

“They (Auburn) were down by 20, and they came back and won the game. The whole time I was on the visit, it just opened my eyes. It wasn’t even an official visit yet. But as soon as I came here, it was like “I think I want to be here.” It made me want to come on another visit, so I came to the game vs. Texas A&M. They lost, but after that, I was ready to plan my official and commit. This is where I wanted to be. It’s a good environment, a family-type environment that I want to be in.”

Thor says he’s ready to grow as a player under Bruce Pearl’s leadership. He cites Chuma Okeke, Isaac Okoro, and Tobias Harris (Tennessee) as models for his own playing potential under Coach Pearl. The freshman is ready to make an impact on both sides of the court and believes the 2020 class is one of the best in the country.

After losing six starters this spring (5 seniors and 1 lottery pick) preseason talking heads aren’t giving Auburn much love going in to the 2020-2021 basketball season. It’s nothing new for Coach Pearl and Auburn. JT Thor just arrived on campus and he already knows,

“I feel like we’re all underdogs. Everybody is an underdog, and we’re coming in with a chip on our shoulder. People are sleeping on us.”

This team is young, but they’re worth watching out for.

 

ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg: Isaac Okoro’s body ‘is NBA-ready’

Isaac Okoro finished second on the Tigers with 12.9 and 4.4 rebounds per game as a freshman.

With the 2020 NBA Draft coming ever closer, a lot of attention is being paid to former Auburn standout Isaac Okoro. Not only do the scouts like his game, some college basketball analysts are also fond of his ability.

“In the Kentucky game, [Okoro] was the most physically imposing player on the floor,’’ ESPN’s Seth Greenberg said. “He was tough to keep off the glass and out of the lane. His body is NBA-ready.”

In a NY Post article talking about the possibility of the one-and-done joining the New York Knicks, the praise continued.

“This draft [Okoro] gets consideration as high as No. 4,’’ one NBA personnel director told The Post. “He’s got NBA size, is an athlete with toughness and plays D. So he can get on the court fairly quickly. Coaches like that. After the top three, you can make a case for a lot of players.’’

Greenberg even went as far as comparing him to Toronto Raptors star Jaylen Brown.

“He’s a winner,’’ Greenberg told The Post. “He probably could defend 1-to-4 without an issue. He’s physically strong. He’s got a good floor game. You can post him up. He’s got some similarities to Jaylen. Physically strong, really defend and a toughness about him. High energy. Relentless work ethic. The thing I like the most is just his relentlessness.

“Jaylen Brown had the same question coming out of college, too, and he’s a good shooter now.”

Of course, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl knows what Okoro is able to do on the court after coaching him for one season and, after meeting with the Knicks organization, is confident in the team getting the right guy.

“They’ve done their homework on him,” Pearl told The Post recently. “I didn’t get a read on it, but they’ve done their due diligence.”

Knicks interested in Auburn’s Isaac Okoro

He’s not a scoring point guard, he’s not even a good shooter. But he’s got a reputation for being a winner and defender — and that might be what the moribund Knicks need with their No. 8 draft pick. According to an NBA source, Auburn’s 6-foot-6 small forward Isaac Okoro has support among Knicks brass as a consideration for the draft on Oct. 16.

ESPN’s college basketball maven, Seth …

ESPN’s college basketball maven, Seth Greenberg, sees a potential Jaylen Brown-type player in Okoro. Some have compared Okoro to Toronto’s wing, OG Onunoby. “He’s a winner,’’ Greenberg told The Post. “He probably could defend 1-to-4 without an issue. He’s physically strong. He’s got a good floor game. You can post him up. He’s got some similarities to Jaylen. Physically strong, really defend and a toughness about him. High energy. Relentless work ethic. The thing I like the most is just his relentlessness. “Jaylen Brown had the same question coming out of college, too, and he’s a good shooter now.”

Knicks interested in Florida State’s Devin Vassell

If New York decides to take the best player available at eight, regardless of position, players like Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, Florida State’s Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams could be there. Dayton’s Obi Toppin is unlikely to be on the board at eight. Vassell, it’s worth noting, has some fans at Madison Square Garden, sources say.

Where Isaac Okoro is slated in latest NBA mock draft

The former Auburn star is set to be a lottery pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The lottery is over and the Minnesota Timberwolves have the right to the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

While Isaac Okoro won’t hear his name at that spot despite what Jay Bilas might thing, he won’t have to wait long per the latest mock draft by USA TODAY.

Per Scott Gleeson, the former Auburn standout will be picked at No. 9 by the Washington Wizards.

“The wing has athleticism and a wingspan that could make him an elite defender at the next level, shutting down opposing perimeter forces. That’s a big void for Washington, one of the worst defensive teams in the league.”

In his one and only season on the Plains, Okoro finished second on the team with 12.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while also taking on defensive responsibility of guarding the opponents’ best offensive player.