Alright, hoop heads, buckle up! The Cavs just made a big move, and it’s got everyone talking.
Okoro Gets Paid
So, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaac Okoro finally put pen to paper. The 23-year-old forward inked a three-year deal worth $38 million. This comes straight from the agents Michael Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, and Marcus Monk, who spilled the beans to ESPN’s Woj.
Back in June, Cleveland tossed a one-year, $11.83 million qualifying offer Okoro’s way. He gave it a hard pass, letting it expire on October 1. Smart move? I think so. The Cavs were sitting pretty $10.4 million below the luxury tax before this, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. So, they had the room to maneuver.
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 โ the fifth overall pick in 2020 โ averaged 9.4 points a season ago.
โ Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Okoro’s On-Court Hustle
Drafted fifth overall in 2020, Okoro has been grinding ever since. Through 279 games (216 starts), heโs been solid, averaging 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. Last season, he stepped it up, putting up 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting a career-high 39.1% from beyond the arc.
Remember that game against the Mavs last December? Okoro was on fire, dropping 22 points on 53.8% shooting from the field and 57.1% from deep. Talk about clutch!
Cavs’ Summer Moves
This summer was a busy one for Cleveland. They locked down Donovan Mitchell with a three-year, $150 million extension. Not stopping there, they re-signed Evan Mobley for five years at $224 million and Jarrett Allen for three years at $91 million. Oh, and letโs not forget they snagged Kenny Atkinson from the Warriors to replace J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach. Bickerstaff had high praise for Okoro, saying, โHe has the ability to guard multiple positions. He can guard up, he can guard down. And now you see the confidence that he has on his shot, not just from the corners anymore. He finds ways to score in transitionโฆ But he plays in a way that inspires his teammates.โ
Updated Cleveland roster
โ Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42)
Playoff Aspirations
Last season, the Cavs finished fourth in the East with a 48-34 record. They battled through a tough first-round series against the Magic, winning in seven games. Unfortunately, their playoff run was cut short by the Celtics, who went on to win the championship.
The Cavs are hungry for more. Theyโre gunning for their first conference finals appearance since 2018. Can they do it without LeBron? Only time will tell.
So, what do you think? Will Okoro’s new deal pay off for the Cavs? Are they poised for a deeper playoff run this year? Letโs hear your thoughts!
