Prior to re-signing Josh Giddey, the Bulls had a relatively quiet offseason, but they did make one significant move: acquiring Isaac Okoro from the Cavaliers in a trade that could benefit all parties. Okoro adds a crucial element the Bulls were missing and is expected to play a key role as their primary defensive stopper.
Okoro is an absolute lockdown perimeter defender. He’s gone toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the league and shut them down or, at the very least, made life difficult for them. A couple of seasons ago, he was on the short list of the very best isolation defenders in the NBA.
Isaac Okoro’s stellar defense is a huge bonus for the Bulls
The Bulls are desperately lacking in quality defensive players and did not have anyone of Okoro’s caliber prior to making the trade. The team is overflowing with offensive talent, but lacks the defenders to be a complete threat. Adding Okoro gives them defensive intensity, especially against teams that rely heavily on one perimeter-focused star to generate offense.
Some of the Bulls’ youngsters, such as Matas Buzelis, have displayed strong defensive potential but lack guidance on the team flush with offensive talent. With Okoro’s addition, he can also demonstrate to the younger players how to defend at a high level in the NBA. Even if he’s not able to elevate the entire team’s defense instantly by himself, he can help lay the foundation for the Bulls’ future.
Okoro is by no means an offensive savant, but he has worked on his game enough to survive on that end of the floor. Over the last two seasons, he has shot 39.1 and 37.1 percent from three-point range—albeit on shots that were totally wide open. The Bulls like to get threes up at a high rate and feature many other scoring threats, so it’s expected that he’ll receive similarly open looks.
Even though Okoro played on one of the league’s best offenses in Cleveland, he has never suited up with a passer of Josh Giddey’s caliber. Giddey could unlock a new level in Okoro’s offensive game with lobs and outlet passes that Cavs guards were unable to provide. At just 24, Okoro is still young and has room to further develop his skills on a new team.
As long as Okoro is not bogging down the offense by being a complete non-factor, his defense should make him a tremendous positive for the Bulls. He’s easily the best defender the Bulls have, and will have an important role to balance the team’s overall output towards the less glamorous end.
