Should the Indiana Pacers trade for Chicago Bulls guard Isaac Okoro this offseason?
Chicago Bulls guard Isaac Okoro has been named an offseason trade target for the Indiana Pacers.
NBA analyst Dan Favale of Bleacher Report believes the Pacers should pursue a trade for Okoro if the Bulls make the swingman available this summer.
"Isaac Okoro's offense will be touch-and-go for a Pacers squad not known for carving out a ton of corner threes, but he can leak out and make stuff happen in transition," Favale wrote. "Indiana also has offense to spare if it means making room for functional ball pressure at the other end."
Okoro appeared in 63 games for the Bulls this season. He averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 46.0% from the field, 33.0% from beyond the arc and 79.5% from the free-throw line.
Okoro, who began his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, will make $11,814,814 next season in the final year of his contract. That's pretty cheap for a solid two-way player who is better suited to play for the Pacers than the Bulls since Indiana will be a contender next season and Chicago is still rebuilding.
The Pacers had the league's second-worst record this season at 19-63. Tyrese Haliburton missed the season recovering from his Achilles tear. He will return to the lineup next season, so Indiana will be a playoff team again.
Indiana acquired Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers at this year's trade deadline. Zubac, Haliburton and Pascal Siakam will be the Pacers' "Big 3" next season. Adding more depth in the backcourt by trading for Okoro would be a low-cost move.
Okoro has career averages of 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game in the regular season and 5.3 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
The Pacers could have drafted AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson. Instead, they have to pray that Zubac plays like an All-Star next season alongside Siakam and Haliburton.
Pacers Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pacers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
