Isaac Okoro, rightfully, is no longer viewed as a core player for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro is no longer part of the core.

The Cleveland Cavaliers delayed the development of their team by selecting Isaac Okoro in 2020 with the 5th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Since his arrival in Cleveland, he’s been a Grade A citizen by all accounts. A hard worker through and through. The problem with Okoro is that the Cavs are trying to compete now, and don’t have the time needed to develop Okoro’s mid-court offense.

Okoro has no real jumper to rely on, and his three-point shooting isn’t something you want to rely on. His third season saw some nice stats for shooting percentage, but he only shot when he was open, and would often pass out of opportunities. It’s easier to have nice-looking averages when you take 4.7 shots per game.

Okoro can score in transition, and score well, it’s just that if the team isn’t running, Okoro doesn’t really provide anything offensively. Too many times we saw the Cavs have to play 4-on-5 on offense, as the opposing defense would just not even bother covering Okoro.

So it’s no surprise that Cavs beat writer for Cleveland.com, Chris Fedor, is saying his time with the squad may be over;

"The Cavs will explore every path to offseason improvement — and Okoro is no longer viewed as a core player.Any of the ‘expendable’ pieces could be dealt in the right deal. That means Okoro, the 22-year-old still-developing swingman who is beloved by teammates and members of the organization because of his ceaseless work ethic, team-first mentality and low-maintenance attitude. But the Cavs also don’t have as much time to wait for Okoro to develop."

Isaac Okoro should be dealt to improve the Cleveland Cavaliers

I don’t think the Cavs are going to get much back for him, and I don’t think trading anyone else alongside him is a good call at all. You can’t redeem the 2020 NBA Draft by trading him away, regardless of who you get back for Okoro.

The Cavs need to move on for anyone, someone, who can hit shots when they’re getting closed out on. While we can sit here and lament not getting someone like Cole Anthony, Josh Green, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickly, Aleksej Pokusevski, or Tyrese Haliburton in the draft, the fact remains that the only way to maximize what we did get in that draft is to flip him now.

The Cavs are no longer waiting for everything to come together, they’re in win-now mode and that means the team may have to give up on Okoro.