Isaac Okoro: Summer was pretty long for me – knowing I was a restricted free agent, I wasn’t on any team, didn’t know. I mean, I knew I was going to come back to Cleveland, but I just didn’t know when.
My agent kept telling me that they wanted me back. They just wanted to get everything right.
All I had was Cavs gear to wear for workouts. So, I mean, I’m not going to go out and get new stuff. I’m a cheap guy, so I’m not going to go buy anything else. I’m going to wear the team’s clothes that I think I’m going to play for.
Cleveland was the team I’m on, so I was running with that gear.
It definitely was like a sigh of relief, and I’m able to go back to the team I’ve always been with, get in the gym with them, start to learn the sets and offensive schemes, get to know the new coach, and actually play against people.
NewAltWhoThis
Has the new coaching staff outlined your role with the team and how much different will it be?
Okoro: They’ve talked to me about having a new role – not being a guy that’s just stuck in a corner and waiting for catch and shoot shots, but a guy that’s moving without the ball, cutting, setting, screens, rolling, playmaking. Just doing a variety of things.
(Coach Atkinson) doesn’t want the offense to be stagnant, with people standing around. He wants the ball to be moving, people to be cutting and moving. I love that.
NewAltWhoThis
The 5th-year man from Auburn was up to his old tricks at Wednesday’s practice – getting a big defensive stop and draining a corner three to seal the victory in a highly-competitive scrimmage. And after the Cavs’ Day 2 workout, Coach Kenny Atkinson was asked about his rugged young swingman.
“I do think we need to diversify his game,” said Atkinson. “He’s defense first – that’s his strength. So, we’ll double-down on that. And then I think we’ll use him as a cutter, more of a slasher-cutter and offensive rebounding. I think those are two areas we can raise this game. And I would say probably the last thing is to use him in the pick-and-roll as a roll guy a little bit. He gets in the pocket, gets downhill and can make plays.”
Edg1931
Wow, to hear of an actual role for Okoro other than just stay in the corner and shoot threes, is a breath of fresh air. He’s a load when cutting through the lane and he always shoots at a pretty high percentage. Getting him moving and cutting is exactly what they need to do with him on offense. He shoots 39% from three so he still can shoot threes, but he has so much more to his game and it’s nice to hear the coaches recognize that.
the_iceman_cometh
I still have high hopes for this man. Love the continuity. Hoping the chemistry amongst the core will really pay off for him this year.
5 Comments
Isaac Okoro: Summer was pretty long for me – knowing I was a restricted free agent, I wasn’t on any team, didn’t know. I mean, I knew I was going to come back to Cleveland, but I just didn’t know when.
My agent kept telling me that they wanted me back. They just wanted to get everything right.
All I had was Cavs gear to wear for workouts. So, I mean, I’m not going to go out and get new stuff. I’m a cheap guy, so I’m not going to go buy anything else. I’m going to wear the team’s clothes that I think I’m going to play for.
Cleveland was the team I’m on, so I was running with that gear.
It definitely was like a sigh of relief, and I’m able to go back to the team I’ve always been with, get in the gym with them, start to learn the sets and offensive schemes, get to know the new coach, and actually play against people.
Has the new coaching staff outlined your role with the team and how much different will it be?
Okoro: They’ve talked to me about having a new role – not being a guy that’s just stuck in a corner and waiting for catch and shoot shots, but a guy that’s moving without the ball, cutting, setting, screens, rolling, playmaking. Just doing a variety of things.
(Coach Atkinson) doesn’t want the offense to be stagnant, with people standing around. He wants the ball to be moving, people to be cutting and moving. I love that.
The 5th-year man from Auburn was up to his old tricks at Wednesday’s practice – getting a big defensive stop and draining a corner three to seal the victory in a highly-competitive scrimmage. And after the Cavs’ Day 2 workout, Coach Kenny Atkinson was asked about his rugged young swingman.
“I do think we need to diversify his game,” said Atkinson. “He’s defense first – that’s his strength. So, we’ll double-down on that. And then I think we’ll use him as a cutter, more of a slasher-cutter and offensive rebounding. I think those are two areas we can raise this game. And I would say probably the last thing is to use him in the pick-and-roll as a roll guy a little bit. He gets in the pocket, gets downhill and can make plays.”
Wow, to hear of an actual role for Okoro other than just stay in the corner and shoot threes, is a breath of fresh air. He’s a load when cutting through the lane and he always shoots at a pretty high percentage. Getting him moving and cutting is exactly what they need to do with him on offense. He shoots 39% from three so he still can shoot threes, but he has so much more to his game and it’s nice to hear the coaches recognize that.
I still have high hopes for this man. Love the continuity. Hoping the chemistry amongst the core will really pay off for him this year.