Brooklyn remains a possible destination for Okoro.
The biggest remaining off-season question for the Cleveland Cavaliers is how they will handle Isaac Okoro’s restricted free agency. They’re reportedly offered Okoro a multi-year contract below the mid-level exception in the $8 to $10 million range annually. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype brought up the Brooklyn Nets as a sign-and-trade destination for Okoro.
The Nets are among the teams considered a sign-and-trade possibility for Okoro, though nothing is considered imminent with Brooklyn, sources said. As previously reported by HoopsHype, Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith has drawn trade interest from Cleveland and has come up in discussions for Okoro, sources said. Cleveland is also intrigued by Cam Johnson, according to reports.
This isn’t a new rumor. Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson have been linked to the Cavs throughout the summer. It will, however, likely continue to be one until the Okoro situation is resolved.
Staying under the luxury tax seems to be a priority for the Cavs. They currently sit $9.7 million under the line with 12 players on the roster. Okoro signing the qualifying offer of $11.8 million would take them over that barring other moves.
Part of the motivation for an Okoro sign-and-trade could be offloading other contracts. A trade for Finney-Smith or Johnson for just Okoro doesn’t work on its own. Additional players would need to be added.
Moving off of contracts like Caris LeVert or Georges Niang would help the Cavs avoid the luxury tax this upcoming season. Okoro could be the asset used to make a trade like that happen. That said, Brooklyn might not be the ideal partner to accomplish that goal.
The Nets are currently over the luxury tax line and are only $5 million away from the first apron. They might not have the appetite to facilitate a move that could possibly add additional money to their books considering they’re entering a rebuilding phase.
The Cavs successfully convinced Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley to sign extensions, but haven’t added to their roster outside of drafting Jaylon Tyson. Johnson and Finney-Smith, to a much lesser extent, would fill a hole at the wing this team has had for several seasons. Both can play the three and four, which is an archetype the team doesn’t have outside of Dean Wade. The question is whether a deal is possible or worth it.
