Is Isaac Okoro set to be the Cavs' next starting small forward?

The Cavaliers clearly have four of their starting roles set, between All-Star point guard Darius Garland, All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, 2022 All-Rookie power forward Evan Mobley, and All-Star center Jarrett Allen. For the small forward gig, it appears that Isaac Okoro may deserve to be the front-runner, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

The 6’5″ wing was selected by Cleveland with the fifth pick out of Auburn in 2020. Okoro has started 128 of his 134 career NBA games thus far. Through two seasons, he is averaging a fairly modest 9.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, and 0.9 SPG.

Fedor notes that the has boiled down to Okoro and Caris LeVert, who Fedor indicates head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has praised in camp, and who has started for most of the team’s 2022 preseason.

“I’m always being myself,” Okoro said. “I know what the coaches want me to do. I’m gonna do that and it’s ultimately up to J.B. to see who starts. I’m fine either way. I’m gonna go in and play my role.” 

There’s more out of the Central Division:

• The Bucks, who made a minor offseason addition in signing veteran small forward Joe Ingles, are hoping that continuity on a roster that won a title in 2021 will help it return to the NBA Finals in 2023. John Hollinger of The Athletic takes a look at how the 2022/23 season could play out for Milwaukee, and predicts a 53-29 finish.
• All-NBA Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is not concerned that his team just wrapped up its preseason sporting an 0-5 record, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN. “It doesn’t worry me,” Antetokounmpo commented after a 107-97 defeat Wednesday to the Brooklyn Nets. “What worries me is our habits and building good habits…. Right now, we’re not vocal enough. We’re not urgent enough. We’re not hungry enough. But at the end of the day, it’s the preseason. We have the whole regular season to find ourselves.”
• Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart has been given the green light to launch from beyond the arc. Keith Langlois of Pistons.com notes that Stewart has appeared fearless during the team’s preseason. He connected on 4-of-10 shooting from long range during a 126-111 preseason loss Thursday to the Memphis Grizzlies. Langlois notes that, should this trend continue into the regular season, this could affect how Dwane Casey opts to use Stewart as a stretch four option in Detroit’s frontcourt. Langlois also discusses new addition Kevin Knox, a Knicks lottery pick in 2018. Langlois thinks Knox’s size and shooting touch could eventually help him crack the team’s rotation.