Brian Windhorst believes Cavs have ‘hard-lined’ with Isaac Okoro in contract negotiations

ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst offered some interesting insight into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ negotiations with restricted free agent Isaac Okoro this offseason.

Okoro, a former first-round pick, has yet to re-sign with the Cavs or sign with another team this offseason after playing the first four seasons of his NBA career in Cleveland.

Windhorst compared Okoro’s current situation with the Cavs to that of former Cleveland guard Collin Sexton, who was also a restricted free agent with the team before he was traded to the Utah Jazz in the deal that brought Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland.

“To go back to a couple years ago when Collin Sexton was a restricted free agent from the Cavs, if you remember, it got very late in the summer – I think it was in August,” Windhorst said of Sexton’s negotiations with the team before recounting the Mitchell trade.

Sexton, like Okoro, wasn’t re-signed quickly by the franchise in the offseason, leaving his status up in the air.

“He ended up getting signed and traded,” Windhorst said of Sexton. “But I remember that before he got signed and traded, there was very, very minimal negotiation that took place between the Cavs and Sexton. The Cavs sort of really hard-lined and probably would have stayed on the hard line had they not ended up getting a chance to trade for Donovan Mitchell. And then they worked out the sign-and-trade.

“I think this is the same situation here. The Cavs have hard-lined with another restricted free agent, Isaac Okoro. I think there’s only been a little bit of talking back and forth. I’m sure it will increase as we get closer to camp. I think the Cavs are realizing that all the money is spent out there. Okoro has the option of taking his qualifying offer. I am told the Cavs made a multiyear offer, whatever that’s worth.”

A solid 3-and-D wing, Okoro would make sense for the Cavs on their current roster, but perhaps they don’t want to bid against themselves for his services in the 2024-25 season and possibly beyond.

Last season, Okoro averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Okoro has steadily improved as a shooter during his time in the NBA.

As a rookie, he shot just 29.0 percent from 3-point range, but his 3-point percentage has gone up in each season since then.

The 2023-24 campaign was Okoro’s best 3-point shooting season by far, as he shot 39.1 percent from 3 on 3.1 attempts per game. The improved shooting from the forward makes him a much bigger threat on the offensive end of the floor.

The Cavs did draft a wing in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft in Jaylon Tyson, but it could still make sense to bring Okoro back, especially if the team fears the idea of injuries playing a role in the upcoming season.

It’s possible the Cavs will change their negotiating strategy with Okoro as the start of the 2024-25 regular season approaches, but for now, things appear to be stagnant.