As the Cleveland Cavaliers look ahead to the new season, they will know some tweaks to the current roster are necessary.
Kenny Atkinson’s team isn’t far from being a legitimate championship contender. Some small moves to improve the roster around the fringes could make a significant difference.
In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Dan Favale highlighted Isaac Okoro as the most likely player to be traded by the Cavaliers. Okoro could help facilitiate a deal to improve Cleveland’s current rotation.
“Isaac Okoro seems like the odd man out. Offloading his $11 million salary into some team’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception would also help slash Cleveland’s tax bill,” Favale wrote.
Okoro, 24, has genuine upside as a high-level three-and-d wing. However, he’s blown hot and cold during his tenure with the Cavaliers. He would be better suited to be on a team that can afford him consistent playing time with a defined role.
In 55 games this season, Okoro averaged 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists. He shot 46.4% from the field and 37.1% from deep.
Cavaliers Struggling to Find Interest in Okoro
According to Chris Fedor, via his “Wine & Gold Talk” podcast, the Cavaliers are struggling to find a buyer for Okoro.
“This front office is canvassing the NBA right now and figuring out what’s possible for them this offseason,” Fedor said. “From everything that I’m told, they’re having a hard time finding anybody that has a legitimate interest in Isaac Okoro, unless Isaac also comes with some kind of sweetener from the Cavs, some kind of assets attached to his contract.”
Fedor continued.
“…Because I think there are teams out there that are looking at Isaac, and they’re saying, ‘We’d be doing you a favor by taking on his contract. So make it worth our time to do that. Make it worthwhile for us to do that. Give us future second-round picks. Go find a first-round pick somehow that you can trade to us, along with [Okoro]. Then we’ll help you out,” Fedor stated.”
Okoro’s defensive versatility and perimeter shooting will undoubtedly entice a team or two around the NBA. The Cavaliers may need to wait for some of the bigger deals around the league to be concluded. Only then will Okoro’s true market begin to emerge.
Cavaliers Also Have Ty Jerome to Worry About
The Cavaliers also need to figure out how to approach Ty Jerome‘s impending free agency. ESPN’s Bobby Marks detailed the tough decision Jerome’s future could create for Cleveland during a May 31 article.
“Jerome has early Bird rights, allowing Cleveland to sign him up to four years (the contract has to be a minimum of two seasons) and $64 million,” Marks wrote. “To show how punitive the luxury tax rules will be next season, a $14.3 million salary in 2025-26 costs Cleveland an additional $80 million in luxury tax penalties. The Cavaliers have the veteran minimum exception available in the likely scenario that the cost to retain Jerome becomes too high.”
Jerome was a high-level part of the Cavaliers’ rotation this past season. However, he’s earned the opportunity to enjoy a pay rise. Cleveland may need to accept that Jerome has priced himself out of a return to the franchise. If that is the case, they must turn their attention to finding a potential replacement.
Fortunately for the Cavaliers, there are multiple veteran ball-handlers hitting the free agent market this summer.
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