According to NBA analyst Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report , a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers “seems like the only realistic destination for Isaac Okoro .” Okoro is a restricted free agent. “Now that the Utah Jazz have used the majority of their remaining cap space to give Lauri Markkanen a raise and extension, a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers seems like the only realistic destination for Isaac Okoro,” Swartz wrote.
“No other team can offer Okoro more than the $12.8 million mid-level exception and not go over the first tax apron. A sign-and-trade is possible, although the Cavs should still want to keep Okoro, the team’s best perimeter defender.
“The 23-year-old is a hard worker, strong defender and improved three-point shooter, although teams still don’t respect his outside shot. A whopping 93.5 percent of his three-pointers were attempted when the closest defender was six feet or more away, or defined as “wide open” by NBA.
com tracking data. “Okoro isn’t a starter on a championship-caliber team and doesn’t need to be on this current Cavs roster. Playing as a seventh man in the rotation and serving as defensive specialist looks to be his calling card, one that Cleveland should be wary of overpaying, however.
“The Cavs are currently just $9.6 million away from paying the luxury tax, something they want to avoid before massive raises for Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell kick in next year. A four-year, $35 million contract like the one Caleb Martin.