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According to Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wassermann, the Cleveland Cavaliers interviewed USC’s center Onyeka Okongwu this week.
Per source, Onyeka Okongwu meets with the Cleveland Cavaliers this week. Has recently met with the Hornets, Spurs and Wizards.
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) November 5, 2020
Okongwu, a USC product, is someone that has risen up the Cavs’ internal board throughout the draft process. Listed at 6’9” and a 245 pounds with a 7’1” wingspan, he projects as a defensive lynchpin from the five spot. That’s definitely a long-term need for Cleveland and a need right now. (Andre Drummond does exist, but it feels less and less likely that he’s going to matter for the team beyond next season.)
Here’s the case for Okongwu in a single tweet.
Onyeka rules. Maybe the only guy in this class who makes this rotation pic.twitter.com/CFVEsJuUa6
— Max Carlin (@maxacarlin) October 28, 2020
There are offensive concerns — it’s hard to figure out exactly what he’ll be on that end aside from finishing at a high level — but Okwongu is really, really interesting. He definitely should be in the running at No. 5.
One of the questions, though, is if he’ll even be there. The Hornets — who, as Wasserman noted, have also interviewed Okongwu — are believed to covet a big man in the draft. If James Wiseman is off the board at No. 2, they could easily take Okongwu.