Magic PF Chuma Okeke's Injuries Make Roster Decision Tough

Chuma Okeke is entering the final season of his rookie contract with the Orlando Magic.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic has been down a long and winding road with Chuma Okeke. But the Magic knew Okeke wouldn't be an instant star when the team took him with the No. 16 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Okeke came into the NBA with a torn ACL, an injury that kept him off the court until Dec. 2020, nearly 18 months after he was drafted. However, he was seen as a player who could develop into a solid player someday.

"As long as Okeke's recovery goes smoothly, he should eventually fill a three-and-D role at the worst," Bleacher Report wrote in 2019. "His jump shot and defensive versatility are easy to buy and theoretically create a high floor. His ceiling could mean Okeke develops into Robert Covington 2.0—an elite role player who doesn't have to create to hold significant value."

And over his rookie campaign, that testament stood true in limited action - averaging 7.8 points, 1.1 steals on 34.8 percent from downtown.

His much healthier sophomore season - appearing in 70 of 82 games - was a resurgence of the player that Orlando saw during his Auburn days.

In his sixth man role throughout the 2021-2022 season, Okeke's numbers jumped to 8.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 25.0 minutes per contest.

But the same knee that Okeke injured during March Madness in 2019 unfortunately limited the third-year forward to 27 games this past season.

Posting the lowest games, minutes, points and three point percentage of his career, Okeke used the time off the court this season to improve in other areas.

"My biggest part is probably just confidence," Okeke said. "Not just on the court, but off the court too - how my bodies feeling. Being that I was hurt a lot this season, it just gave me more to learn about my body and what to do and what not to do, what makes me feel good, how to prepare for a game and practice."

Now, with Okeke entering the final year of his contract and other options proving more fruitful to the Magic at power forward, Orlando must make a decision soon on Okeke's future. However, there's still a glimmer of hope that the Magic could eventually find the player it hoped it would get nearly four years ago.

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You can follow Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard.

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