With the NBA regular season almost here, the Cleveland Cavaliers have to take care of a few pieces of housekeeping before they kick things off in Brooklyn against the Nets.
Monday is the deadline for several contract- and roster-related decisions across the NBA. Here are the most important ones for the Cavs:
Isaac Okoro's possible contract extension
A total of 27 players entered the offseason eligible for rookie scale extensions.
Eight players – LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Desmond Bane, Devin Vassell, Isaiah Stewart, Zeke Nnaji and Payton Pritchard have already signed new deals. Deni Avdija agreed to an extension with the Washington Wizards over the weekend that will be officially completed Monday.
Of the 18 players that still haven't signed a rookie-scale extension is Cavs swingman Isaac Okoro. The Cavs and Okoro have until 6:00 p.m. EST to agree on an extension or Okoro will become a restricted free agent next summer.
While Okoro has shown flashes of potential and has averaged 8.2 points on 49.4% shooting, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.8 steals in 27.6 minutes per game, he still isn't a complete player on the floor. Okoro's biggest weakness coming out of college was the lack of a reliable three-point shot and that still hasn't changed entering his fourth NBA season. Sure, Okoro still remains the Cavs' best overall perimeter defender. But, the former top-five selection has gone from Cleveland's starting small forward to fighting for a spot in the rotation because of the lack of perimeter touch, which could impact his future with the Cavs.
So, when the 6:00 p.m. EST deadline comes and passes, sources tell ClutchPoints that it won't be a surprise when Okoro remains without an extension. Cleveland hasn't given up on Okoro or his development up to this point, and they're willing to see if he's leveled up at all from the last time he played meaningful basketball. Okoro could be traded at or around the annual trade deadline if he isn't clicking and he falls out of the rotation entirely. But if he's able to start keeping opposing defenses honest on the perimeter, Okoro should easily lock up an extension this summer as a restricted free agent.
Donovan Mitchell's future with or without the Cavs
Besides Okoro, superstar guard Donovan Mitchell is the other extension-eligible player on the Cavs. A veteran player who signed his current contract at least two years ago (or three years ago if it was a five-year deal) can sign an extension. Once the regular season begins, only veterans in the final year of their contracts can sign extensions — a player with multiple years remaining is no longer extension-eligible until the following offseason. That means the Cavs and Mitchell have until 11:59 p.m. EST to agree on an extension or talks are tabled until next summer.
Since Mitchell arrived with the Cavs last summer, there's been endless speculation on whether or not he'd commit to Cleveland long-term. Many thought, Mitchell included, that he would've ended up with the New York Knicks. But, after he was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Cavs, the speculation shifted to Cleveland just being a stepping stone for Mitchell to join his childhood team. Unfortunately for Cleveland, it only got louder when the Knicks bounced the Cavs in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The only way things would calm down is if Mitchell signed an extension with Cleveland this offseason. But, after an entire summer and only hours to go, it seems extremely unlikely it will happen.
Mitchell said during his availability at Cavs Media Day that he wouldn't entertain signing an extension with Cleveland until this summer at the absolute earliest. He said that this decision wasn't due to earning a more lucrative payday this summer but rather to keep his options open regarding his future. Mitchell is currently entering his prime and expressed at the end of last season he's fed up with losing in the first or second round of the playoffs. If the Cavs lose spectacularly again come playoff time or at least cannot prove to Mitchell he can win in Cleveland, he could be ready to move on. It would be another can of worms if that happened, but it's worth monitoring as the season advances.
Finalizing the roster
Finally, the Cavs have until 5:00 p.m. EST to finalize their roster heading into the 2023-24 NBA season. Over the weekend, Cleveland waived training camp invites Zhaire Smith, Sharife Cooper, Pete Nance and Justin Powell, who will all join the Cleveland Charge, the NBA G League affiliate of the Cavs. That move left the Cavs with 14 active players on their roster and three two-way players under contract. Right now, Cleveland could only add one more player to their active roster, but the Cavs are a team that traditionally keeps that spot open.
Unless something unforeseen happens, the Cavs are locked in for the start of the upcoming NBA season.
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