Okogie

[WildWolf2813]

Okogie should get consistent minutes since he'll be one of the few players who won't frustrate us this season.

Player development is key. If the Wolves wanna shake this loser identity they have, they should wanna be that spot that works wonders with young guys.

[Lipoli390]

Okogie should get consistent minutes since he'll be one of the few players who won't frustrate us this season.

Player development is key. If the Wolves wanna shake this loser identity they have, they should wanna be that spot that works wonders with young guys.

You nailed it, Wild!

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Okogie should get consistent minutes since he'll be one of the few players who won't frustrate us this season.

Player development is key. If the Wolves wanna shake this loser identity they have, they should wanna be that spot that works wonders with young guys.

Well, he has been getting consistent minutes in the pre-season, whether starting for Rose or being his primary backup. I think he will be tough to keep off the floor by any coach, including Thibs.

Thibs is also playing KBD a lot although one has to wonder if we'd be better off with Nunnally or Deng taking those minutes. So Thibs isn't completely opposed to playing younger guys.

[Wolvesfan21]

His offensive game is crap. If he could just focus on being a 3 and D player, I think that is his role in the league.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

His offensive game is crap. If he could just focus on being a 3 and D player, I think that is his role in the league.

Only the extremely gifted come into the league as rookies and show great offensive prowess and polish. It's not expected for most, and everybody knew Okogie was raw. He does, however, seem to have all the tools in his bag so it'll be up to him to put it all together.

[Wolvesfan21]

His offensive game is crap. If he could just focus on being a 3 and D player, I think that is his role in the league.

Only the extremely gifted come into the league as rookies and show great offensive prowess and polish. It's not expected for most, and everybody knew Okogie was raw. He does, however, seem to have all the tools in his bag so it'll be up to him to put it all together.

I don't think he has all the tools as you say. His offensive game is garbage. I'm not trashing him by saying that. If he could become an elite defender with a solid 3 pointer, think Bruce Bowen. That's a type of player that we need, every team needs. He shouldn't try and be what he isn't. Focus on his strengths.

[Monster]

His offensive game is crap. If he could just focus on being a 3 and D player, I think that is his role in the league.

Only the extremely gifted come into the league as rookies and show great offensive prowess and polish. It's not expected for most, and everybody knew Okogie was raw. He does, however, seem to have all the tools in his bag so it'll be up to him to put it all together.

I don't think he has all the tools as you say. His offensive game is garbage. I'm not trashing him by saying that. If he could become an elite defender with a solid 3 pointer, think Bruce Bowen. That's a type of player that we need, every team needs. He shouldn't try and be what he isn't. Focus on his strengths.

The guy is 20 and rookie I want a guy to try and be more than that. One stat even if it's just preseason that gives indication that a okogie has offensive potential is he averaged 5 FT attempts per game (his 84%) in 22 minutes and he got to the line plenty in college too.

[Lipoli390]

His offensive game is crap. If he could just focus on being a 3 and D player, I think that is his role in the league.

Only the extremely gifted come into the league as rookies and show great offensive prowess and polish. It's not expected for most, and everybody knew Okogie was raw. He does, however, seem to have all the tools in his bag so it'll be up to him to put it all together.

I don't think he has all the tools as you say. His offensive game is garbage. I'm not trashing him by saying that. If he could become an elite defender with a solid 3 pointer, think Bruce Bowen. That's a type of player that we need, every team needs. He shouldn't try and be what he isn't. Focus on his strengths.

The guy is 20 and rookie I want a guy to try and be more than that. One stat even if it's just preseason that gives indication that a okogie has offensive potential is he averaged 5 FT attempts per game (his 84%) in 22 minutes and he got to the line plenty in college too.

Good point, Monster.

I'll add this. The absolutely essential attribute a wing has to have coming into the League to become a good offensive NBA player is ballhandling. I wasn't sure watching him in Summer League, but watching him in the preseason I'm convinced his ballhandling fundamentals are very solid. A 20-year old rookie can certainly improve his ballhandling one in the NBA, but its the one skill you can't expect to improve substantially because it's such a basic motor skill that develops early in life. And it's such a critical skill for an NBA SG or SF. If this basic motor skill is really bad by NBA wing standards coming into the League as it was with Wiggins, it tends to put a ceiling on a wing's NBA game that can't be overcome. Thankfully, Okogie's ballhandling skills are solid and with his work ethic he can improve them further. A key for him will be adding change of speed and direction to his dribble-drive game - much like a player with a great fast ball adding a changup and slider.

The next most important attribute is instinct, sometimes referred to as feel for the game. This is a more subtle attribute, but watching Okogie closely this preseason, he has really impressed me with his feel for the game. Yes, he's make some bad decisions. He's a 20-year old rookie after all. But watch him closely and you'll see he makes quick decisions, has a good sense of where his teammates are on the floor, sees opportunities presented by the defense and tends to make the right pass and make it well.

The one important offensive skill Okogie seems to lack is shooting. But shooting ability is the offensive attribute - apart from ballhandling and instinct -- that can improve the most once a player gets to the NBA. And it's not as if Okogie is starting from scratch as a shooter. His free-throw shooting has been excellent throughout his college career and the preseason. He also shot well from behind the arc in college, albeit on a limited basis. Don't get me wrong, Okogie has a LONG way to go as a shooter. His FG percentage is college was only around 41% and that was my biggest concern about him coming out of college. But his free-throw accuracy tells me he has a foundation to build on in developing his perimeter shot. He also needs to improve a lot finishing at the rim. That's been apparent in the preseason and it was also a problem for him in college. So he has a lot of improving to do as a shooter in multiple ways if he's going to become a good offensive player. I think he has the drive, work ethic and basic hand-eye coordination to succeed in this area.

Ultimately, I see Okgoie's floor as Marcus Smart and his ceiling Donovan Mitchell. The keys will be substantially improved shooting, tightening his handle a bit more, and adding change of speed and direction to his dribble-drive game.

[Monster]

His offensive game is crap. If he could just focus on being a 3 and D player, I think that is his role in the league.

Only the extremely gifted come into the league as rookies and show great offensive prowess and polish. It's not expected for most, and everybody knew Okogie was raw. He does, however, seem to have all the tools in his bag so it'll be up to him to put it all together.

I don't think he has all the tools as you say. His offensive game is garbage. I'm not trashing him by saying that. If he could become an elite defender with a solid 3 pointer, think Bruce Bowen. That's a type of player that we need, every team needs. He shouldn't try and be what he isn't. Focus on his strengths.

The guy is 20 and rookie I want a guy to try and be more than that. One stat even if it's just preseason that gives indication that a okogie has offensive potential is he averaged 5 FT attempts per game (his 84%) in 22 minutes and he got to the line plenty in college too.

Good point, Monster.

I'll add this. The absolutely essential attribute a wing has to have coming into the League to become a good offensive NBA player is ballhandling. I wasn't sure watching him in Summer League, but watching him in the preseason I'm convinced his ballhandling fundamentals are very solid. A 20-year old rookie can certainly improve his ballhandling one in the NBA, but its the one skill you can't expect to improve substantially because it's such a basic motor skill that develops early in life. And it's such a critical skill for an NBA SG or SF. If this basic motor skill is really bad by NBA wing standards coming into the League as it was with Wiggins, it tends to put a ceiling on a wing's NBA game that can't be overcome. Thankfully, Okogie's ballhandling skills are solid and with his work ethic he can improve them further. A key for him will be adding change of speed and direction to his dribble-drive game - much like a player with a great fast ball adding a changup and slider.

The next most important attribute is instinct, sometimes referred to as feel for the game. This is a more subtle attribute, but watching Okogie closely this preseason, he has really impressed me with his feel for the game. Yes, he's make some bad decisions. He's a 20-year old rookie after all. But watch him closely and you'll see he makes quick decisions, has a good sense of where his teammates are on the floor, sees opportunities presented by the defense and tends to make the right pass and make it well.

The one important offensive skill Okogie seems to lack is shooting. But shooting ability is the offensive attribute - apart from ballhandling and instinct -- that can improve the most once a player gets to the NBA. And it's not as if Okogie is starting from scratch as a shooter. His free-throw shooting has been excellent throughout his college career and the preseason. He also shot well from behind the arc in college, albeit on a limited basis. Don't get me wrong, Okogie has a LONG way to go as a shooter. His FG percentage is college was only around 41% and that was my biggest concern about him coming out of college. But his free-throw accuracy tells me he has a foundation to build on in developing his perimeter shot. He also needs to improve a lot finishing at the rim. That's been apparent in the preseason and it was also a problem for him in college. So he has a lot of improving to do as a shooter in multiple ways if he's going to become a good offensive player. I think he has the drive, work ethic and basic hand-eye coordination to succeed in this area.

Ultimately, I see Okgoie's floor as Marcus Smart and his ceiling Donovan Mitchell. The keys will be substantially improved shooting, tightening his handle a bit more, and adding change of speed and direction to his dribble-drive game.

Good stuff Lip. Lots happened around this team since we talked about Okogie being drafted etc so it's worth remembering what his college situation was. He was the highest usuage guy his 2nd season and there was not much 3 point shooting on that team. statistically they were a bad offensive team. Sure that reflects poorly on Okogie to some extent but imagine what he may have looked like on a team with more talent. Would he have been more efficient? This isn't a guy that's just been bumming around in college playing off guys. He was the leading scorer there both seasons. That's both good and bad but I do think there should be some context for his inefficiency especially in his last year of college. The real key is he is likely to do enough stuff to actually get on the floor and have a chance at figuring some of this other stuff out.

[Wolvesfan21]

I must be in the minority because I think Okogies handle is bad. Which is why I hope he can become a 3 and D player. Sure he can improve, but to say his handle is solid, I just don't see it.