Pistons, Jazz Only Teams That Can Make Cavaliers’ Isaac Okoro ‘Meaningful Offer’
According to NBA analyst Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report , the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz are the only teams that can make Cleveland Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro a “meaningful offer.”
Okoro is a restricted free agent.
“He’s never been tasked with a significant scoring role, but Okoro is just 23 years old and coming off a season in which he shot 39.1 percent from deep,” Bailey wrote. “When you combine that with a 6’9” wingspan and back-to-back campaigns with an above-average defensive estimated plus-minus, it’s easy to become intrigued with his three-and-D upside.
“For whatever reason, though, those factors don’t seem to have sold the Cavaliers on the possibility of bringing Okoro back. Now over a month into the offseason, the restricted free agent remains unsigned, and only the Pistons and Jazz have the cap space to make him a meaningful offer.”
As a restricted free agent, Okoro can either re-sign with the Cavaliers or sign an offer sheet with another team.
Cleveland would have 48 hours to match an offer sheet for Okoro.
The Cavaliers drafted Okoro with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Auburn. He has career averages of 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks in 279 games.
Okoro’s qualifying offer is worth $11.8 million. He would become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if he signed his qualifying offer with the Cavaliers.
Okoro appeared in 69 games for the Cavaliers this past season. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 49.0% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 67.9% from the free-throw line.
According to NBA reporter Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers have made Okoro multiple offers “what they deem fair.”
“Sources say the Cavs have already made multiple variations of what they deem fair, multi-year offers that align with Okoro’s perceived market value and his place within the hierarchy of the organization,” Fedor reported. “Those potential deals also give him financial security.”
