Chicago Bulls fans have struggled to figure out the deal with Isaac Okoro for the past week. Arturas Karnisovas is a professional NBA executive. Many people hold him in high regard. So, how could he justify giving up Lonzo Ball for a small forward who the Cleveland Cavaliers only saw as useful for 19 minutes per game last season? Something wasn’t computing. His stats didn’t indicate a player who could impact games in any meaningful way. Unsurprisingly, fans turned against the deal right after it went through.
Over the past few days, people have spoken out to defend it. One of them is Cavs insider Bob Schmidt. He spoke to the CHGO Bulls Show about Okoro’s situation in Cleveland. Was he really a colossal bust, or were there layers to the situation? From how he describes it, Okoro was making serious progress in his offensive game before a shoulder injury derailed things last December. His shooting effectiveness dipped, and the team reduced his minutes from 21 per game to 17 after that.
Combine that with too many other guys taking up the offensive responsibilities on that roster, and Okoro never had a chance to grow. That won’t be an issue in Chicago.
The Bulls likely see Isaac Okoro as another Josh Giddey.
Many people felt the point guard never had a chance to explore his full potential because he was trapped on a stacked roster in Oklahoma City. Chicago traded for him, knowing they’d be able to give him the necessary room to play full-time and realize his potential. He ended up averaging 17.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per 36 minutes last season. Isaac Okoro was a top-five pick for a reason. He has all the tools to be a good NBA player. What he never really had in Cleveland was room to spread his wings. He always fought for minutes with guys like Lauri Markkanen, Cedi Osman, Max Strus, Ty Jerome, and D’Andre Hunter. That won’t be an issue in Chicago. If they put him at shooting guard, there is a clear path to extended playing time.
