Last week, the Cavaliers announced the re-signing of restricted free-agent wing Isaac Okoro. Okoro, whose contract saga had lasted all offseason, penned a three-year, $38 million deal to extend his stay in Cleveland. The wing has spent his entire four-year NBA career with the Cavs.
Restricted free agent F Isaac Okoro has agreed on a three-year, $38 million deal to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Michael Tellem, Jeff Schwartz and Marcus Monk of @excelbasketball tell ESPN. Okoro — the fifth overall pick in 2020 — averaged 9.4 points a season ago. pic.twitter.com/dFInx3QoMS
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 14, 2024
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What Re-Signing Of Restricted Free Agent Means for The Cavs
Salary Cap
Keeping Okoro in Cleveland on such an inexpensive deal has kept the Cavs open to many options. Cleveland will be just at the luxury tax limit now with Okoro’s contract. This will allow the Cavs to remain reasonably flexible in the free-agent and trade market in February. All summer long, Cleveland has been involved in trade talks. Okoro has been one of those names. However, the likes of Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen gained real steam. If Okoro becomes a throw-in to a massive deal at the deadline, it would be because he is on a friendly contract.
Trade Rumors
Okoro’s deal is team friendly allowing him to keep his trade value. According to HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto, the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets were both interested in a potential Okoro trade. The Cavs showed they have interest in what the 23-year-old brings to the team by bringing him back aboard.
However, if things do not work out across the next season or two, trading Okoro will still be very possible. When Allen signed his extension in Cleveland a few weeks ago, trade rumors were still swirling as he could be traded at the deadline. There is a possibility something similar could happen to Okoro.
His Fit In Cleveland
Since being drafted in 2020, Okoro’s main trait has been his defense. Last season, Okoro had a defensive rating of 110.7, the second-best mark of his career. During the Cavs’ remarkable 20-4 stretch in late January and February, Okoro was easily one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He has shown the ability to be an All-Defensive Team caliber player, especially as a wing. The Cavs have been one of the premier defensive teams since 2020, in large part due to players like Okoro on the perimeter. Another season of improvement, or even steady play, will have Okoro in consideration for one of the top wing defenders in the NBA.
Outside of his impressive defense, Okoro is a serviceable player offensively. Okoro averaged 9.4 points on 39.1% from the three-point line, a career-high. Despite the high percentage on the surface, Okoro is shooting only 3.1 attempts per game behind the arc. His career-high for threes made in a game is just four. Due to postseason injuries, Okoro played a larger role. However, his confidence is still lacking as he shot just 25.7% from three. The Cavs need Okoro to improve on this number in big games. In the last two seasons, a lack of shooting down the stretch has seen the Cavs exit the playoffs early.
Cleveland enters this season with a new head coach keen on involving the three-ball in the offense more. If Okoro can be a more consistent shooter when it matters most, he can be one of the best 3-and-D wings in the entire NBA making his contract extremely valuable.
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