The 14th overall pick in last week’s NBA draft, Ochai Agbaji, is looking like an outstanding prospect for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Agbaji has ample athleticism, a nice outside shot and excellent defensive potential.
He could be the productive 3-and-D wing the Cavs have been hoping for and have needed for a while.
Agbaji’s presence will help big men such as Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, as they won’t have to bail out their teammates as much by protecting the rim from talented wings on the opposing team.
If Agbaji pans out, he could be a big part of the Cavs’ answer defensively to stars and superstars such as Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum.
However, there may be one player whom Agbaji can help the most by taking the pressure off him and removing the burden of having to perform and produce for the team.
Cedi Osman
A second-round draft pick in 2015 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Osman has been largely viewed as a disappointment by Cavs fans.
He has been cast into the role of a 3-and-D wing, playing small forward more often than not, and he simply hasn’t gotten the job done much of the time when called upon.
This season, Osman got 22.2 minutes of playing time per game, and he hit 35.7 percent of his 3-point shots, which isn’t awful, but it wasn’t great either.
Defensively, he was also just average or mediocre as well.
Osman’s playing time decreased a bit as the season went on, and so did his production at both ends of the floor.
It would be harsh and inaccurate to call Osman a bust or a failure, but it appears he simply doesn’t have the talent or the next-level skill to be the difference-making wing Cleveland needs.
Agbaji Could Be That Man
It’s not an indictment of Osman to say that he’s not the key wing the Cavs need.
But it is very complimentary of Agbaji to say he can be that man if he simply pans out.
At the NBA combine, he clocked in with a 39-inch vertical leap, and overall he is a pretty impressive athletic specimen.
Scouts have lauded not only his ability to hit outside shots or finish strong, but his solid basketball IQ, which can especially help him on the defensive end.
He can switch onto and defend players at multiple positions, and he appears to have decent instincts on that end of the floor.
Agbaji shot 40.7 percent from 3-point range this season for the University of Kansas Jayhawks, and therefore he can help the Cavs improve their outside shooting efficiency.
Some highlights of Ochai Agbaji to brighten up your day 😁
pic.twitter.com/zAKzrlmkWs— Sports Nation Ohio (@SN_Ohio) June 24, 2022
In fact, Koby Altman, the Cavs’ president of basketball operations, called Agbaji a “finished product” and feels he can help his team right away.
#Cavs President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman called Ochai Agbaji a "finished product" and said that due to Cleveland's position as a near playoff team, it made it more justifiable to take the former Jayhawk at 14.
— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) June 24, 2022
With Allen and Mobley, Cleveland is set in the frontcourt, and Darius Garland and Collin Sexton (if he is re-signed) give it a killer backcourt duo, especially on offense.
But Agbaji could be the final main piece that will help the Cavs become a title contender not too long from now.
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