The Orlando Magic have announced that they’ve signed rookie forward Chuma Okeke, who was drafted 16th overall by the Magic in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Okeke, 22-years-old, missed the 2019-20 season after tearing his left ACL in Auburn’s win over North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.
Okeke’s rookie deal will be a typical four-year pact but starting at $3.1 million.
Averaging 12.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game in his second and final season with the Tigers, Okeke helped them reach the Final Four for the first time in school history.
The Atlanta native led Auburn in total blocks (46), steals (69) and rebounds (260) while being the team’s third-leading scorer in 2018-19. Okeke also shot .387 from 3-point range, the second-highest mark among full-time starters.
Numbers don’t always tell the story but his paint the picture of a multi-dimensional player who can have a sizable impact on the outcome of a game.
In reality, Okeke is an explosive athlete who knows how to use his physical tools to his advantage in both full-court and half-court settings, consistently looking to attack the rim. While he could be a fine three-and-D player for the Magic, he’s a player who — at 6’8″ and 230 pounds — can be used in a myriad of ways.
Without making any major move, Orlando already got better this offseason thanks to his signing.
