Should Cleveland Extend Isaac Okoro? 

Isaac Okoro is entering his fifth year in the NBA. Drafted in 2020 by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the eight overall pick, Okoro has become one of  the better defensive players in the league. 

But, with his contract coming to an end, and Cleveland needing to progress as a team, a question is arising. Should Cleveland extend Okoro? Here’s a look at the good, the bad and whether or not Cleveland can afford to extend him. 

The good 

Okoro’s primary value comes from his defensive capabilities. He may not play the loudest defense, but he has a way of making great scorers go quiet. While his reputation around the league is built upon his defense, a lot of what he does still gets overlooked. He’s an excellent point of attack defender, but he also effectively defends off-ball in a way that prevents his assignment from even getting their chances to score. 

He’s also come a long way as a scorer. Although far from a sharpshooter, he’s become consistent enough to be a threat from behind the arc. Enough, at least, to not be intentionally left open. Okoro also, particularly this season, seemed to finish at the rim more consistently, and with more purpose. Even if he has a tendency (to put it lightly) to not pass out of a bad layup. That being said, he also has his setbacks as a player. 

The bad

While his scoring has come a long way, it’s still not where Cleveland predicted it would be at this point in his career. Entering his fifth season, he’s averaging 8.5 points per game. He averaged the most points per game his rookie season (9.6), and has scored 20 or more points in only nine total games.

Okoro also hasn’t shown a level of growth that warrants a significant extension. Or, rather, what Okoro would be valued at. Granted his role has shifted over his time in Cleveland, most of his basic stats are within a single point differential of his rookie season. They’re not the stats of a bad player, but they’re not the stats of an exceptional player, either. He has, though, lowered his turnovers to less than one per game. 

Should Cleveland trade Okoro? 

It’s unlikely that Okoro will receive any offers in free agency at this point. With the $11.83 million extension offered to Okoro in his qualifying offer, though, it does make him a relatively viable trade asset. Especially considering he’s in the last year of his current contract. 

He’s not the best scorer, but he’s not the kind of player that has to be to make an impact. A defensive stalwart and competent scorer, Okoro would be a benefit to any team. The question, then, is a larger extension worth it for the Cavaliers? 

Unfortunately, probably not. Cleveland has their four stars, and the rest of the budget will be carefully spent crafting the best possible supporting cast. Okoro is good enough to warrant a solid payday, and the Cavaliers will most likely need that to flesh out the rest of the roster. If Cleveland can lock him up on a smaller deal, though, Okoro could (and probably will be) absolutely be a force on the defensive end for seasons to come. Whether or not his scoring takes another leap, his defense alone is enough to warrant a roster spot. 

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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com

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