Nets, Jazz, Pistons, Clippers could show interest in Isaac Okoro

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been unable to reach a deal with restricted free agent Isaac Okoro. He is reportedly expected to receive interest from multiple teams. Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid shared four teams who could look to acquire the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, writing:

league sources have expressed to Right Down Euclid that the Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers are all teams who could be slowly, albeit eventually, brought to the table to negotiate in good faith on an Okoro-focused deal.

It will all just take time, and unless things move at a glacial pace, a resolution on the Okoro front will eventually come for Cleveland. [h/t Right Down Euclid]

Okoro had the best season of his four-year NBA career in 2023-24. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range and 67.9% from the free-throw line. It is unclear what type of return the Cavaliers would look for in a potential sign-and-trade.

Cleveland Cavaliers have a limit to what they will pay Isaac Okoro

Isaac Okoro has been a key member of the Cleveland Cavaliers rotation over his four seasons with the franchise. While has started in 216 of 279 career games, the franchise may be ready to move on from the former fifth overall pick. Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid reported that the Cavaliers have a limit to what they are willing to offer Okoro financially, writing:

The belief across the league is that while Cleveland would like to keep Okoro, there’s a limit to how much they’re willing to commit to him financially. That means the idea of facilitating Okoro in a sign-and-trade, where Okoro is paid an amount he’s happy with from a different team while the Cavaliers receive compensation, comes into the mix.

However, the issue in including Okoro in a sign-and-trade for those players is that Cleveland wouldn’t be able to use the total amount of his new salary in a trade, complicating the situation. [h/t Right Down Euclid]

Dammarell noted Okoro’s 2023-24 salary of $8.9 million would be used for salary matching purposes. He added that a team acquiring the young forward would likely be unwilling to offer much value in a deal. If his market does not materialize, Okoro could accept the $11.8 million qualifying offer from the Cavaliers. He would enter next summer as an unrestricted free agent.

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