By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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After a protracted negotiation period, the Cleveland Cavaliers have at last agreed to terms with restricted free agent 3-and-D small forward/shooting guard Isaac Okoro, a scant two weeks before the start of training camp.
Okoro's reps at Excell Basketball — Michael Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, and Marcus Monk —inform Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that the 6-foot-5 swingman is inking a three-year, $38 million deal that will keep him in Cleveland through the 2026-27 season.
According to Wojnarowski's ESPN colleague Tim Bontemps, Okoro was the last restricted free agent on the market this summer to be inked to a deal.
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Cleveland selected Okoro with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft following a decorated one-and-done run at Auburn, which saw him earn SEC All-Freshman and All-Defensive Team honors, plus a Second-Team All-SEC appearance. Okoro was drafted ahead of All-NBA Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (the No. 12 pick) and Philadelphia 76ers All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey (the No. 21 pick). But that doesn't mean Okoro is chopped liver.
The swingman showed instant promise on the defensive end of the hardwood in 2020-21, earning All-Rookie Second Team honors for his trouble.
Last year was Okoro's most productive yet, as a key contributor and part-time starter on a deep 48-34 Cleveland club that advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since its 2018 NBA Finals berth. That year, a certain 20-time All-Star was the Cavaliers' starting small forward.
In 2023-24, the 23-year-old averaged 9.4 points on .490/.391/.679 shooting splits, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per bout. He suited up for 69 games with the Cavaliers, including 42 starts.
Max Strus, a more reliable offensive player with better ballhandling acumen, is likely to continue to start over Okoro when healthy this season, but Okoro's vastly improved 3-point shooting seems to point to some intriguing shooting upside. He has the size and strength to remain a powerful impact defender along the perimeter.
The Okoro signing is just the latest in a busy Cleveland offseason. The Cavaliers inked All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, All-Defensive power forward Evan Mobley, and All-Star center Jarrett Allen to lengthy extensions, securing their core of the future alongside point guard Darius Garland.
Cleveland also brought in a new head coach, replacing J.B. Bickerstaff with former Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson.
Read more: Cavaliers Hire New Head Coach After Lengthy Search.
Head over to Newsweek Sports for the latest on all of the league's late-offseason signings, trade chatter, and game breakdowns.
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