Isaac Okoro’s Struggles In Playoffs For Cavaliers ‘Hasn’t Helped His Negotiating Position’

Cleveland Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro is still a restricted NBA free agent and his struggles in the playoffs may be a reason he’s still on the market. 

“While he gave his team 9.4 points a game on 39.1 percent shooting over the regular season, he struggled in the playoffs at 5.5 and 25.7 percent, which hasn’t helped his negotiating position,” NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote. “The Cavaliers are about $7.4 million below the NBA’s $170.8 million luxury-tax line, and Okoro’s qualifying offer of $11.8 million is on the table until October.

“He can unilaterally accept that figure, and he might if he and the Cavaliers can’t agree on a long-term deal. Otherwise, Okoro would need a team willing to give him an offer sheet (that Cleveland can match) or find a franchise capable of executing a sign-and-trade that the Cavs would find appealing.”

Okoro’s qualifying offer is worth $11.8 million. He would become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if he signed the qualifying offer with the Cavaliers. 

Okoro appeared in 69 games for the Cavaliers in 2023-24. 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. 

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. 

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, who drew interest from the Brooklyn Nets before talks with the Cavaliers fizzled.

According to NBA reporter Evan Dammarell of ClutchPoints, it appears Okoro may have to sign his qualifying offer with the Cavaliers and bet on himself. 

“It appears that, for now, all options for Okoro in restricted free agency have been exhausted,” Dammarell reported. “With that in mind, sources across the league have expressed to ClutchPoints that Okoro will pick up his $11.8 million qualifying offer from Cleveland. From there, Okoro is more or less betting on himself next season, which could be his last with the Cavs.”