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The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly interested in adding a role player before the end of free agency.
Per Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, the Nets are eyeing a potential sign-and-trade for Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Isaac Okoro. Scotto also noted that the Cavs have been intrigued by Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson.
According to Scotto, Brooklyn is among the teams interested in Okoro, so the restricted free agent could have more buzz surrounding him in the coming weeks.
Okoro, the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, has been a solid role player in his four NBA seasons. He’s averaged 8.5 points on 46.7 percent from the field and 34.7 from deep in his career, but upped those numbers to 9.4 points on 49 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three last season.
As one of the best remaining free agents on the market, Okoro will likely have teams bidding to take him from Cleveland. If he chooses, he can sign a one-year, $11.83 million qualifying offer that would make him a free agent next offseason.
Okoro has also reportedly received an offer between the $8 to $10 million range annually from the Cavs. The benefit of taking that deal with Cleveland versus the qualifying offer is that he’ll have more financial security, but if he believes he can make more money next year, the one-year deal might be the route he decides to go.
While the Cavaliers could likely get a solid return for Okoro in a sign-and-trade with the Nets, it could be worth keeping him around after Cleveland’s current group found some success last season.
The Cavs went 48-34 last season, beating the Orlando Magic in the first round before losing to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs. They will return a similar roster this season and look for success under new head coach Kenny Atkinson.
