This offseason the Chicago Bulls traded guard Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro. The deal shocked many, but not those who were familiar with the negotiating style of the current Bulls front office. During their time with Chicago, President of Basketball Operations Artruras Karnisovas and General Manager Marc Eversley have shown that they clearly value their past draft evaluations to the point where they much prefer going after young talent currently in the NBA rather than valuing draft capital.

Now while it is true that there is no right or wrong to build a franchise, it is also true that by not valuing draft capital you must either pull off creative trades where you add (eventual) star-level talent or simply nail your picks in the later half of the lottery. The Bulls have not done the first part yet, as Nikola Vucevic was not a big enough draw to justify Chicago giving up picks that led to Franz Wagner and Jhett Howard. Giving up Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey looks less egregious, though the Bulls have a ways to go in terms of getting their money’s worth from the deal as Oklahoma City won an NBA Championship in large part because of Caruso’s defensive versatility. So this all begs the question: Will Isaac Okoro be a worthwhile and difference-making addition for the Bulls?

Chicago’s addition of Okoro could have been encouraged by head coach Billy Donovan, who provides a level of offensive freedom for his players as long as they show buy-in on defense. The Bulls clear weakness on defense was well…..everything. Jokes aside, the Bulls managed a respectable-for-them 18th ranked Defensive Rating (114.8) despite clear holes in terms of point of attack defense and rim protection.

Nikola Vucevic is not a strong defender but makes up for it with veteran knowhow. He knows how to be in the right place and still cleans the defensive glass with the best of them. The issues come when facing dynamic ballhandlers who can easily turn Vucevic’s hips and get downhill attacking the basket.

The only solution for this besides getting a new center altogether, is point of attack defenders who can keep quick guards in front of them, or at least recover from behind after getting beat off the dribble initially. Enter Isaac Okoro.

Okoro played a solid role for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that finished in the top-10 in Defensive Rating every season he played for them besides his rookie year. Now this is mostly because of the eventual presences of center Jarrett Allen and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, but Okoro was able to play role without limitations knowing he had excellent rim protection behind him. Things will obviously be different in Chicago. Unlike Cleveland, where Okoro was a supporting character on defense, he will be the leading man in Chicago.

It is no guarantee that Okoro starts for the Bulls, but Donovan will need to rely on him heavily either way if he hopes to improve a defense that just avoided the bottom-10.