Not so long ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers thought they were about to land one of the future two-way stars of the league.
Fast forward to today, and it’s safe to say that Isaac Okoro hasn’t lived up to the expectations.
Even so, the Cavaliers still wanted to keep him around at the right price, and they weren’t the only team with a big interest in his services.
The Cavs and Okoro just agreed to a three-year deal worth $38 million.
And according to a report by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets were interested in him.
The Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets were among the teams who expressed interest in acquiring restricted free agent Isaac Okoro via sign-and-trade before he agreed to a three-year, $38 million deal to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources told @hoopshype. https://t.co/qE2PUxa6MP
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 14, 2024
Okoro was a restricted free agent, so the Cavaliers ultimately held the right to match any offer he got.
Even though he’s struggled to get anything going on offense, it was still somewhat surprising to see that it took so long for Okoro to sign a new contract.
He’s proven to be a more than reliable defender in the backcourt and the wing, and he’s been cool with starting or coming off the bench.
Still, this is a make-or-miss league, and you need to make some shots if you want to stay on the court.
He’s going to have to put some work into becoming a better three-point shooter, as he’s athletic and a solid defender, and there’s always a big market for 3-and-D players.
The Cavs want to take a big leap under Kenny Atkinson, and while it will mostly depend on Donovan Mitchell, the supporting cast will also have to step up.