Indiana Pacers known to have interest in Cleveland Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro, per report

According to a report from Michael Scotto in HoopsHype, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro is a player to keep an eye on ahead of Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline.

Okoro is a quality defensive wing who can do just enough to be productive on offense, but the Cavaliers may be a team that is dealing with the luxury tax next season. That could be a factor in any move Cleveland makes involving the 2020 lottery pick, who is making $8.9 million this season.

The Cavs are currently second in the Eastern Conference standings, so their trade motivations would seemingly be to get better. One team that is reportedly looking at potential Okoro deals is the Indiana Pacers, who made a big trade earlier this season when they acquired Pascal Siakam.

"With that in mind, Okoro is expected to draw interest at the trade deadline," Scotto shared. "The Knicks, Hawks, Pacers, Suns and Bucks are all teams to closely monitor as all are known to have interest in acquiring a two-way wing, league sources told HoopsHype."

Okoro was the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the same draft that Pacers players Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and Jalen Smith were selected. Contributors around that age range are perfect for Indiana's timeline.

Okoro is a wonderful wing defender, especially on the perimeter, and that would make him a fit anywhere. The blue and gold are defending better of late, and the Siakam-Nesmith pairing has done well slowing other frontcourts. But adding another talent in Okoro would be a positive for the Pacers if they were able to pull it off.

Matching salaries would be challenging. A trade has to make sense for the Cavaliers, too, and that's where things become more difficult. Perhaps a deal with a third team or additional Cleveland players would make sense, but as more parties become involved, trades become more difficult to create.

Okoro is averaging 8.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game this season. He's shooting 49.2% from the field and making over 37% of his outside shots. The Auburn product has been with Cleveland for his entire career.

Indiana is 28-23 this season. The trade deadline for the current NBA season is on Thursday.