Okoro almost signed qualifying offer with Cavs

Okoro thought he’d remain with Cavs throughout restricted free agency.

Isaac Okoro had an interesting summer. His restricted free agency carried on for longer than originally anticipated and his name was floated around in trade rumors more than a few times. Okoro believed that he would find his way back to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“It wasn’t as stressful as people thought it was,” Okoro said about his restricted free agency that ended with a three-year $33 million guaranteed extension. “I know what I can do. I know Cleveland wanted me and I wanted to be here. I knew I was always going to be here at the end. Now, I’m just focused on the basketball part of it. Just working on myself to get better.”

Okoro did think about taking the qualifying offer with the Cavs which would’ve paid him $11.8 million for this upcoming season and would allow him to be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

“I took a lot of time,” Okoro said about his decision. “I talked to my family, friends, agents. It was close. I mean, it took a lot of time. I had to weigh the pros and cons to everything so I did really think about it.”

Everyone in the organization seems happy that the deal got done when it did. None more so than head coach Kenny Atkinson.

“The minute I was signed [Atkinson] texted me, called me, and told me how he sees me on the court,” Okoro said. “His communication skills are high. . . . He sees me as a cutter, a guy that’s able to handle the basketball, play make, attack closeouts and make the next read.”

“Coach [Atkinson] goes, ‘We’re going to need that force on defense,’” President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman said. “There’s really talented offensive players and in an offensive drive league, we need guys that make their bread and butter is to stop or make it difficult for some of the best players in the world.”