As the Cavaliers consider various scenarios involving restricted free agent forward Isaac Okoro, one option they’ve explored is a sign-and-trade deal with the Nets, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Sources tell Scotto that, while no agreement is imminent, Brooklyn is considered a possible sign-and-trade destination for Okoro. Veteran Brooklyn wing Dorian Finney-Smith – who is known to be a potential Cavaliers target – has come up in discussions between the two teams involving Okoro, Scotto confirms.
With the Nets hitting the reset button to some extent, adding the 23-year-old Okoro on a longer-term deal may be a better fit for the organization than retaining the 31-year-old Finney-Smith, who can reach unrestricted free agency next summer if he declines his 2025/26 player option.
The Nets are one of several teams to have expressed some sign-and-trade interest in Okoro, Scotto writes, adding that the former Auburn standout could potentially earn an annual salary north of the mid-level exception ($12.8MM) if a sign-and-trade comes to fruition.
Recent reporting indicated that the Cavs have made Okoro a multiyear offer that would pay him less than his $11.8MM qualifying offer on an annual basis — that offer is estimated to be in the range of $8-10MM per year. However, Scotto hears that rival teams believe Cleveland would be prepared to match an offer sheet up to about the full non-taxpayer mid-level.
The Cavaliers are approximately $9.7MM below the luxury tax line, with at least two roster spots to fill, so re-signing Okoro and remaining out of the tax would require him to accept a starting salary slightly below $8MM. A higher starting salary – including his $11.8MM qualifying offer – would push team salary into tax territory.
It’s unclear if staying out of the tax is a priority for Cleveland this season, given that the team projects to above that line next season (and beyond) once Evan Mobley‘s new maximum-salary extension takes effect, Scotto writes. If the club brings back Okoro and wants to avoid the tax for one more year, trading a player like Caris LeVert or Georges Niang could be an option, Scotto speculates, though he notes that Niang is close with Donovan Mitchell, while LeVert is an important part of the second unit. Okoro himself could become a trade candidate later in the season too.
In Scotto’s view, the worst-case scenario for the Cavs would be for Okoro to accept his one-year qualifying offer, since that would give him trade veto rights for the 2024/25 season and he could potentially leave for nothing next summer. For that reason, Scotto expects the Cavs to either come to terms on a multiyear deal with the former No. 5 overall pick or to find a sign-and-trade scenario they like.
If the Cavs could trade Niang they would ASAP, he was an absolute disaster and unplayable most of the time.
Yet nets won’t trade Cam Johnson for expiring contract Bruce Brown?
If they were smart
That’s kind of the opposite of this deal, tbh. Johnson is younger and has potential upside. Brown’s the vet on an expiring deal. Okoro is young and has potential upside. DFS is 30 on a potential expiring (player option for next season).
Not surprising that they don’t want to effectively spin in a circle as far as the overlapping trade ideas go. Johnson might fetch a more attractive return of similar value later.
Nets can do better than a old guy like Brown since they are rebuilding unless a 1st round pick is attached to the deal. .
Bruce Brown is 27. It’s a matter of timing and the deals the players are on, not specifically age.
Nets are not considered a playoff team so why take him unless they are flipping him to another team?
They shouldn’t, but the reason they’re not taking him has nothing to do with age. You specifically called him “a[n] old guy”, lol.
27 to a rebuilding team is a old guy. Would you call Kevon Looney a old guy since he is 28.
Cam Johnson is actually older than Bruce Brown by roughly five months, their age really shouldn’t be a factor here.
Where Cam still has three years on his deal and Brown is basically signed for just 24/25, Toronto would likely need to include more compensation in a deal be it a another player or a pick. Unless Brooklyn is just looking to dump Johnson’s salary which I doubt.
Good call whoever mentioned this as an idea (EonADS maybe?)!
I wasn’t the only one, lol. Just seemed likely given the expected salary for Okoro and fit for both teams. DFS has been a Cavs target for a while.
True, but when you routinely see folks putting forth wild, or even downright impossible, trade scenarios, realistic ideas look genius in comparison lol
I’m glad I could help?? lol
Okoro for DFS seems like a lateral move at best for the Cavs but it would at least land Cleveland a viable replacement in their rotation.
DFS is 31 and scored 8.5 points a game last year while shooting .348 from deep. He has a good defensive reputation but had poor defensive metrics last season. Okoro is 23 scored 9.4 points a game shot .391 from deep and was the Cavaliers best defensive player last year. Seem like a step backwards for the Cavaliers. Unless the Net’s are throwing in Noah Clowney to be the Cavaliers back up bigman why bother. The move puts the Cavaliers over the tax threshold. Why not just pay Okoro what he is worth if they are going over the tax threshold? Either way?they can’t make either move until they add a backup for Allen and Mobley. Doing so after going over the tax would be a lot more complex and result in a low quality add they’d probably have to trade a rotation player for. Less than ideal to say the least. Take the 8 million acquire a baxk up big man and then go over the tax to either sign Okoro or sign and trade him. DFS is 3 inches taller than Okoro but otherwise inferior to him in every other way.
Except that “poor defensive metrics” is just flat-out wrong and comes from nowhere?? He was basically his exact same self on defense from every range. In some ways, he was even better. Certainly better than his numbers from 2022 and 2023. Okoro isn’t consistent. DFS is. DFS is a better rebounder. Opponents shot 5 percentage points better from 3 against Okoro (40% opponent’s 3FG%) vs. DFS (35% opponent’s 3FG%), and Okoro also can’t defend at the rim while DFS can.
Okoro took only 3 attempts per game from three while DFS averaged about five and played with a much worse team. Not surprised his 3pt percentage tailed off a bit.
I get that you don’t like the trade, but don’t make stuff up to try and justify your dislike. Because that’s exactly what most of your comments on DFS sound like.
I will also add that Okoro draws more fouls than he makes. DFS makes more than twice as many fouls as he draws. DFS oddly commits more fouls on offense than he draws on offense. Hard to do that. DFS had 1 magnificent defensive season in 2021-22 . Since then he has been a part of 2 horrendous defensive teams in Dallas before the trade and Brooklyn after it. His Defensive Win Shares were respectable both year’s so he wasn’t likely at fault. Still Okoro had 44% more dws than DFS in 2022-2023 and 25% more in 2023-24. If I find more I will get back to you.
I will grant that DFS is a better rebounder than Okoro. That said defense is about more than rebounding. And he should be a better rebounder being 3 inches taller than Okoro. The 2 defensive metrics that immediately come to mind are points allowed per 100 trips and defensive win shares. DFS allowed 117 per in his 100 trips while Okoro allowed 113. Now I get that DFS was not the only player on the floor for the Nets. Of course much of his time on the floor Nick Claxton was on the floor. Cam Johnson as well. Both are superior defenders. The Net’s inefficient shooting was a large part of their failure last year. The guards playing no defense at all hurt too. That said Noah Clowney had better 100’s while playing with the 3rd unit in blowouts. I didn’t makeup anything. I just didn’t feel like explain the defensive metrics at that moment. Okoro has a strong reputation for defensive prowess and out scored DFS. He will improve over time. DFS won’t but at 31 he will likely decline in the next few years. If I were the Cavaliers I would ask for a first round pick in the deal if they are to give up a 23 year old Okoro for him. His problem in both playoffs was JB Bickerstaff. A great defensive coach mind you. But if any unproven player made a mistake or 2 JB pulled them from the floor and that’s all you saw of them that night. He did this with Okoro, Osman, Isaiah Mobley, Porter, Moses Brown, Isaiah Hartenstein etc. . It is impossible to atone for your mistakes while sitting on the bench. Don’t get me wrong I get why he didn’t use Emoni Bates much last year. There were some guys who were not good enough to earn playing time yet if ever. But he didn’t develop players unless he had no choice. Sexton, Garland and Evan Mobley come to mind. Okoro could not get better when a mistake led to either a benching or the offense ignoring him by passing around him. I saw the mistakes he made. But in his 4th year it might just have been JB’s fault that Okoro had trouble.
Cam Johnson is better than Okoro and Brown right now. IMO still getting better. I liked Okoro a lot coming out, still do. If I’m Cavs I take Cam right away. Makes them better right away. He’s a better chemistry guy. And does not need the ball.
I’m Nets I take Okoro and picks (1st, 2nd).
Okoro is still essentially developing, DFS is rotation playoff piece. Good trade for both teams given their situations.
I doubt BKN would initiate or tolerate Cam Johnson’s name entering a discussion about possibly swapping out DFS for Okoro. As BKN is constituted, he’s likely their most reliable 2 way player. If they trade him, and they might at some point since they’re in full tank mode, then they’ll want real consideration. Starting with at least one FRP.
BKN is probably the least like landing spot among all NBA teams for Bruce Brown. He’s a massively overpaid rental, albeit with a skill set that contenders might see as very attractive for a deadline acquisition. How that plays is up to Ujiri, who has to do better with this player than he did last year. If he’s talking to any Tanking team, it’s not good sign.