Sad news: cavs nation has been confirmed dead as he was involved in….
out a sign-and-trade to find a new long-term home for Okoro if both sides believe there is no realistic agreement. In this case, Okoro must be offered at least three guaranteed years, and all parties involved must agree to the deal. If the Cavaliers are not interested in keeping Okoro for the long term, this is the best possible option for the organization, given the financial flexibility it provides.
The financial side of Okoro’s offseason
With Okoro’s cap hold, the Cavaliers sit roughly $10 million below the luxury tax line, meaning they will only have access to that much of the $12.9 million non-taxpayer Mid-Level Exception. If the Cavaliers are not committed to Okoro, they should cut him loose and let him find a better situation. In a sign-and-trade, the Cavs only need to take back half of what Okoro’s next contract gives him in the first season. For instance, in Cleveland’s sign-and-trade for Max Strus last season, they only had to match half of Strus’ $14.5 million year-one salary. If Okoro agreed to a similar deal, the Cavs could drop their cap hold significantly and gain access to the full MLE.
Otherwise, the Cavs could explore other money-saving trades with expiring contracts or releasing cap holds on other players. Financially, Okoro’s contract extension changes everything for the Cavaliers. On the court, Cleveland must decide if they believe the potential for Okro outweighs the financial costs. Okoro’s defense and hustle should not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Many games would have been lost without Okoro’s unstoppable commitment to providing every ounce of effort he has to offer.
The Cleveland Cavaliers must prioritize their next head coach and fixing their underwhelming offense. Whether that comes via trade, coaching, free agency or the draft, the Cavs have a busy and messy summer ahead of them. If they hope to compete for the NBA Finals, they must endure and carefully consider every step they take, beginning with Isaac Okoro.
