The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big move to kick off their offseason.
They moved on from Isaac Okoro and let Ty Jerome go to make room for Lonzo Ball.
And while Okoro was a beloved member of the team, Jarrett Allen is somewhat happy about this addition.
In an interview, the Cavs’ big man opened up about the ‘full circle’ moment of teaming up with Lonzo Ball, who was a part of his same high school class (via The Cavs Jack):
“First, sad to see Isaac go. That’s one of my best friends on the team. He was my locker-mate. He was right next to me. But it’s funny with Lonzo—it’s full circle. We got drafted the same year, same high school class. So, we basically grew up playing against and with each other. Now, we’re finally back on the same team. He was in California, I was in Texas. We only crossed paths for maybe two days of the summer, but the familiar face was always there,” Allen said.
#Cavs Jarrett Allen on the Ball/Okoro trade
(TT/cory_mose) pic.twitter.com/yrLBctDWzR
— jack (@TheCavsJack) July 16, 2025
Ball, if healthy, is going to be a huge boost for this team.
Okoro was a homegrown talent, but he never truly panned out as expected.
The defensive expertise was there, but this is a make-or-miss league, and while he finally improved as a shooter last season, he was never much of an offensive factor or someone who could create his own shot.
Ball, on the other hand, is one of the savviest playmakers and better passers in the game.
He can pull the strings of the offense better than most starters, so having him run the second unit will be overkill.
Of course, there are some major injury concerns with him, given that he’s struggled to stay on the floor for most of his career, and some even questioned his ability to return after being out for so long.
But if the Cavs can keep him out of harm’s way, this addition could define their season, as he’s also a lockdown defender who can guard multiple spots and stretch the floor with his shooting.
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