Dale Zanin – USA TODAY Sports
Heading into a crucial offseason that will determine his future, Cleveland Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro has changed agents.
Okoro just completed his fourth NBA season, all with the Cavs. The 23-year-old is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason, and the Cavaliers are reportedly intent on keeping him despite potential interest from multiple Eastern Conference teams.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Auburn University, Okoro has built a reputation around the league as a quality defensive player with room for improvement offensively.
During the 2023-24 regular season, he averaged 9.4 points per game while shooting 49.0% from the field and a career-best 39.1% from three-point range, potentially making him marketable as a three-point and defensive wing player.
The Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards are among the teams reportedly interested in Okoro.
What to do with Okoro is just one of many big decisions the Cavaliers face this offseason. The team needs to secure a new head coach to replace J.B. Bickerstaff, who was fired after losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs. James Borrego and Kenny Atkinson appear to be the leading candidates, and a hiring decision will likely be made soon.
The Cavs could also receive trade offers from up to eight teams if Darius Garland becomes available in a trade.
But perhaps the biggest question facing the Cavs is the long-term future of superstar Donovan Mitchell. There's growing optimism that the 27-year-old Mitchell will eventually sign a long-term contract extension and stay in Cleveland, but questions remain about his intentions. Former Miami Heat player and current Heat executive Udonis Haslem believes Mitchell “maybe really want to leave Cleveland.”
It will be interesting to see as the upcoming offseason progresses whether Okoro also plans to find a new basketball team or if he, Garland and Mitchell will remain teammates in the NBA in the 2024-25 season.
