Trade Proposal Sends Dorian Finney-Smith To Cavaliers, Isaac Okoro To Nets

One NBA analyst proposed that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets make a trade with each other. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Cavaliers and Nets:

Trade idea: The Cleveland Cavaliers trade Isaac Okoro (sign-and-trade) to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith

“If the Cavaliers are as committed to their core four as it sounds, then they should continue searching for two-way forwards to fit in between their scoring guards and defensive-minded bigs,” Buckley wrote in his NBA article. “And it sounds like they’re doing just that, as ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported they’re eyeing both Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson in Brooklyn.

“Johnson is the superior shooter, but Finney-Smith’s blend of shot-making and defense should give him the nod, since neither Donovan Mitchell nor Darius Garland is known as a shutdown defender.

“Finney-Smith is among the more flexible wing stoppers found in the Association, and his shot has typically played up when he has talented creators around him. During his last two full seasons in Dallas with Luka Dončić (2020-21 and 2021-22), Finney-Smith averaged 2.1 three-pointers with a 39.5 percent splash rate.”

Finney-Smith averaged 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Nets in 2023-24 while shooting 42.1% from the field, 34.8% from beyond the arc and 71.7% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $14.9 million in 2024-25. 

Finney-Smith has career averages of 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Dallas Mavericks and Nets. 

The Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs in five games. They fired JB Bickerstaff and hired Kenny Atkinson, who signed a five-year deal.

Cleveland also signed Mitchell to a three-year extension. The franchise is building around Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. 

Okoro is a restricted free agent. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks this past season for the Cavaliers while shooting 49.0% overall, 39.1% from 3 and 67.9% from the foul line. 

The fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Okoro has career averages of 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks. 

The Nets are in rebuild mode after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks.