Isaac Okoro is an emerging sniper and defender whose work this year has likely made him too expensive for the Cleveland Cavaliers to retain in the offseason if other teams pursue him. Of all NBA forwards in 2023-24, Okoro is in the 84th percentile in three-point efficiency.
His stock rose exponentially in 19 straight starts while Evan Mobley (knee injury) and Darius Garland (jaw fracture) were absent. Okoro and Dean Wade were promoted to the starting unit, and the group kept grooving. The former excelled guarding the other team’s best perimeter player, as well as in zone coverages, plus hounding the ball in full-court press.
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Okoro has the foot speed and strength to be in a group’s top eight rotation, and he’s durable. He has never played below 82 percent of the games in a year and is fourth in total minutes logged in the current Cavaliers campaign.
The Cavaliers and Okoro did not come to an agreement on a contract extension this past summer, making him a restricted free agent this offseason. Here are some squads that could badly use his services.
Team No. 1 - San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are ranked 22nd of 30 teams in Defensive Rating and 26th in three-point protection. Okoro would instantly be their best perimeter defender, being able to guard three positions.
Using Ice at the point of attack could help in drop coverage - the unit’s primary scheme when guarding pick and roll. At this stage, Victor Wembanyama goes low against PNR to take away the rim run, but if the defender up top dies on the screen, the French Usurper is cooked. Okoro is good at locking and trailing, plus he has good instincts to anticipate a screen or get over them decently in time. Or, when Wemby feels comfortable coming up on a smaller player, Okoro’s power should let him guard up on switches.
Offensively, the are Spurs 29th of 30 teams in catch-and-shoot three-point percentage (35.3). Okoro would alleviate this problem because he converts 41.5% of catch-and-release trays (2.8 attempts per game). Additionally, when Wembanyama gets stronger and starts recovering more offensive rebounds, a growing marksman like Okoro on the perimeter would help bail the Spurs out if the defense is still collapsed on the big man.
Team No. 2 - Detroit Pistons
The Motor City’s squad is another one with many issues on defense. Despite allowing just 31.5 opponent three-point attempts nightly, the Pistons concede 37.7 percent of those strikes, good enough for the 24th-best mark in the NBA. Okoro could assist in lowering that percentage as a starter or from the reserves with his ability to switch after screens. (Pistons recently got Quentin Grimes, spare parts and cash in a trade with the New York Knicks on Feb. 8 for Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks.)
On offense, playing next to an up-and-coming big guard like Cade Cunningham and speedster Jaden Ivey, who both cause overreactions in the paint, is a shooter’s preference. Okoro could also run pick-and-pop sets with each guard, taking advantage of late switches or recoveries to the outside. Moreover, since the Pistons are not a good outside shooting group (35.8 percent), rivals throw out the zone. Okoro can beat that because he is solid at cutting through openings on the baseline or wings.
The Pistons are also an average team on the break, scoring 14.6 points per game. Okoro would help here, too, as 27.3 percent of his points this season come in the open court.
Team No. 3 - Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are so starved for defensive help that Okoro’s commitment to that side might buy him a starting gig from day one if he ended up there. The group doesn’t have much protection on the perimeter, as it permits rivals to feast from three-point range (38.2 percent) because it sags off the line too much and doesn’t set high enough pick-up points against shooters. Okoro’s ability to work in full-court press and close-out speed would help the Hornets guard the outside.
Charlotte’s dynamic point guard LaMelo Ball hasn’t played since Jan. 26 because of a right ankle injury. With and without him the Hornets don’t take enough advantage of open-court opportunities, and in transition, they generate 123.9 points per 100 of those plays, good enough for the 24 percentile of all games this season. Hypothetically, Okoro flanking him on the break would be lethal because he could leak out to corners or outrun everyone for an inside finish.
In total, all of Okoro’s improvements will make him a coveted piece this summer. Unless Koby Altman works some impressive financial gymnastics on the books, this is probably his last ride with the Cavs. Remember, Evan Mobley will be due for his rookie extension, and in Cleveland, the big man will have top billing.