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Cleveland Cavaliers missing reliable tone-setter Isaac Okoro at both ends of the floor
Updated Jan 02, 2021;
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ATLANTA The Cleveland Cavaliers are 2-0 with promising rookie Isaac Okoro in the starting lineup and 1-2 without him. Coincidence? Not quite.
“It’s difficult,” Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said when asked about playing without Okoro following Saturday’s shootaround at State Farm Arena. “He’s one of the guys where innately he brings that physicality and that force. We miss that.”
That’s been the common refrain since taking Okoro with the fifth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The youngster, no matter how ugly or pleasant the box score, impacts winning.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks game preview and how to watch
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Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
On Sunday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers drubbed the Philadelphia 76ers in their rock and roll inspired attire to the tune of 118-94. Once again, the SexLand tandem (officially adopted by Larry Nance Jr.) dazzled and combined for 36 points and 10 assists. Joining them in a strong effort was Andre Drummond - who finished the night with 24 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Unfortunately, Cleveland also lost Kevin Love to his nagging calf injury and Isaac Okoro was also sidelined due to a foot sprain.
Chicago Bulls
Losses: Kris Dunn, Shaq Harrison, John Paxson (general manager), Jim Boylen (coach)
2019-20 Record: 22-43, 11
th in Eastern Conference
Analysis: For the third straight season, the Chicago Bulls missed the playoffs. While 2021 might not reverse that trend, there is significantly more optimism around the Bulls now than the previous few years.
After a long run with John Paxson and Gar Forman leading the front office, Chicago finally made a change at the top of the organization. The Bulls hired Arturas Karnisovas from the Denver Nuggets, and he revamped the entire front office. Karnisovas built a reputation as a savvy talent evaluator in Denver and was part of a group that built one of the Western Conference’s deepest teams.
Signed G/F Bogdan Bogdanovic to a 4-year deal worth $72 million.
Signed G Rajon Rondo to a 2-year deal worth $15 million.
Signed G Kris Dunn to a 2-year deal worth $10 million.
Drafted F Onyeka Okongwu out of the University of Southern California with the 6th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Drafted G Skylar Mays out of Louisiana State University with the 50th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Grade: A
Evaluation: It feels right to start the grading process with an A. The Atlanta Hawks are not a team that can lure big free agents to come to play for them, which means that they must do everything in their power to keep Trae Young happy. And they did just that. Signing veteran pieces like Rondo and Gallinari will provide the Hawks with leadership and stability in the guard and forward positions. Dunn and Mays provide backup depth, and Dunn can be a great defender to pair with Young (who really needs help in that end). The biggest steal in free agency, however, was Bogdanovic. A player who i