The Bulls’ front office executed a minor trade this offseason when it sent Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro. The deal has flown under the radar, but Chicago believes a switch to head coach Billy Donovan’s transition-heavy offense is just what Okoro needs to prove why he was the No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft.

The former Cav has been tossed around into different roles over his five NBA seasons. He was a starter in his first two years, but saw his minutes and starts dip fairly dramatically in his third year before he became a spot starter and bench player in 2023-24. Last year, Okoro started 22 games and averaged 19.1 minutes, both career lows. He averaged 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds, also career lows.

But Chicago’s emphasis on pace, three-point shooting, its new collection of athletic wings and its massive defensive deficiencies may be just what the five-year pro needs.

Chicago Bulls believe they can unlock the best version of Isaac Okoro

Okoro was drafted to be a 3-and-D wing in Cleveland. He’s always been a stout defender, and he developed his outside shot to the point where he buried 38.3 percent of his 3.0 triples per game over the last two seasons.

But as the Cavs slowly climbed the Eastern Conference standings, they were constantly looking to upgrade at small forward. When Cleveland acquired De’Andre Hunter at last year’s trade deadline, Okoro’s exit became a sure thing. The Bulls were happy to scoop him up in exchange for a 27-year-old point guard who played only 35 games last year as his long-term injury woes continue.

Free from the 3-and-D shackles, so to speak, and thrust into a run-and-gun offense, Okoro can put his entire skill set and athletic tools on display. The Atlanta native entered the 2020 draft on the heels of a one-and-done season at Auburn. He started all 28 games for a Tigers group that finished the year 25-6. The raw but physically gifted freshman averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 stocks in 31.5 minutes per game.

Okoro wasn’t a 3-and-D prospect coming out of college; far from it. His shooting stroke was one of his most significant question marks. What NBA scouts saw was a strong, athletic wing who was best getting to the rim and using his size and explosion to finish through — and sometimes over — contact. They saw a versatile defender big enough and smart enough to guard multiple positions.

When talking about the team’s desire to play even faster this season, one unnamed Bulls coach name-dropped Okoro in the same sentence as Matas Buzelis and rookie Noa Essengue, per Keith Smith of Spotrac: “That [pace] suits Matas (Buzelis) and Noa (Essengue) as our young forwards and all of our guards really well. We also think that Isaac (Okoro) will benefit in a more up-tempo style too. There’s untapped potential there.”

Cleveland saw his defensive versatility and honed in on it, but never gave Okoro a real runway to use his high-level athleticism, dribble-drive game or finishing ability. As that coach said above, he’ll have more room to show those skills in Chicago, where Donovan wants to run teams out of the gym every night.

Instead of planting himself in a corner, Okoro will have the chance to find a lane, get downhill and attack the rim in transition.

The 24-year-old became one of the Bulls’ best, if not the best, on-ball defenders as soon as the trade was finalized. He’s proven to be a reliable three-point shooter. And now he’ll get to show off all the other aspects of his game that made him such a highly touted prospect coming out of college.