The Cleveland Cavaliers front office is all in on their core players and putting their money where their mouth is in extending the third member of their starting lineup to a multiyear extension. After signing their cornerstone superstar Donovan Mitchell to a three-year, $150.3 million extension in July, starting center Jarrett Allen agreed to a three-year, $91 million deal in August. And now, the Cavs have inked starting forward Isaac Okoro to a three-year, $38 million contract extension.
Cavs Nation is excited about the 2024-25 season. Following Okoro’s contract extension news on Saturday afternoon, fans shared their jubilation on X, formerly Twitter.
“MY KING IS HOME,” one fan wrote, to which a Cavs Nation France X, formerly Twitter account, replied, “WHAT A BANGER OF A DEAL.”
“WELCOME BACK ISAAC OKORO,” another fan added, accompanied by a highlight of Okoro dunking over Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun.
“Welcome Back Ice. Cavs resigned Issac Okoro for 3 years 38 million,” a fan said with a picture of the small forward donning Cavs’ maroon and gold.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski initially broke the news of Okoro’s re-signing.
“Restricted free agent F Isaac Okoro has agreed on a three-year, $38 million deal to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Michael Tellem, Jeff Schwartz, and Marcus Monk of [Excel Basketball] tell ESPN,” Wojnarowski said. “Okoro — the fifth overall pick in 2020 — averaged 9.4 points a season ago.”
Issac Okoro signs a three-year, $38 million extension with Cavs
David Richard-Imagn Images
Isaac Okoro earned his contract extension after starting in 216 games in his four seasons with the Cavs. Okoro, the team’s defensive anchor alongside Jarrett Allen in the starting lineup, will reprise his role as Cleveland’s primary wing defender in 2024-25. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals last season.
After Okoro was mentioned in potential trade talks last month, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst confirmed the Cavs were in the negotiating phase of signing their fifth-year small forward a multiyear extension.
“Isaac Okoro, there’s only been a little bit of talking back and forth. I’m sure it will increase as we get closer to camp,” Windhorst said. “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, it’s kind of a no-brainer [that] they would make a multiyear offer.”
Adding depth to their frontcourt, the Cavs re-signed veteran center Tristan Thompson to a one-year extension earlier this week. Thompson, 33, is returning for his 11th season in The Land.