Ochai Agbaji Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Cavaliers Roster
June 24, 2022
Kansas shooting guard Ochai Agbaji, who led the national champion Jayhawks with 18.8 points per game last year, will now head to the Cleveland Cavaliers after they selected the 22-year-old with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Ochai Agbaji
Position: SG/SF
Height: 6'5"
Pro Comparison: Quentin Grimes
Scouting Report: Agbaji joined Mikal Bridges as the only NCAA players to finish with 100 threes and 35 dunks in a season. He won't be counted on for creation, but he'll come off as a plug-and-play rookie for his ability to catch and shoot, finish at the rim and defend both wing spots.
Ochai Agbaji, SG/SF: Rookie scale contract
Kevin Love, PF: $30.1M (2023)
Jarrett Allen, C: $20M (2026)
Caris LeVert, SG: $17.5M (2023)
Lauri Markkanen, PF: $16.9M (2025)
Evan Mobley, C: $9.2M (2025)
Cedi Osman, SF: $7.8M (2024)
Darius Garland, PG: $7.3M (2023)
Isaac Okoro, SG: $7.3M (2024)
Dylan Windler, SG: $2.6M (2023)
Lamar Stevens, PF: $1.3M (2024)
Dean Wade, PF: $1.2M (2023)
Collin Sexton, PG: RFA
Ed Davis, C: UFA
Rajon Rondo, PG: UFA
Brandon Goodwin, PG: UFA
Moses Brown, C: RFA
RJ Nembhard, PG: RFA
Agbaji played at Kansas for four years. He saved his best work for last, notching career-highs of 47.5 percent shooting and 40.7 percent from beyond the three-point line. He also had 5.1 rebounds per game.
The Milwaukee native was exceptional in the men's NCAA tournament, notably hitting 6-of-7 three-pointers against Villanova in the Final Four and dropping 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting in the Elite Eight.
He came through when the Jayhawks needed him most, and now he's looking to parlay his stellar senior season into NBA success.
NBA draft experts think highly of Agbaji's potential relative to his peers. NBADraft.net (17th), ESPN (17th), CBS Sports (10th) and Sporting News (11th) all have him rated highly.
He's also a player who can contribute right away. He showed he can excel on the game's brightest collegiate stage, and his three-point prowess should translate to the next level.
We'll see how it all turns out for Agbaji, but CITY should get a solid contributor off the bat.