The Orlando Magic have yet to sign first-round pick Chuma Okeke, and the team is considering giving the Auburn product a “redshirt year” in the G-League:
Chuma Okeke remains the loan unsigned 2019 first round draft pick. Orlando still has a spot for him, but there is a chance Okeke takes a "redshirt" year as a domestic draft and stash, rehabs and plays in the NBAGL with Lakeland. https://t.co/0V4j9cAxTy
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) August 13, 2019
Of course, it is still possible that the Magic use their last roster spot to bring Okeke on to their offseason roster. However, it might be better for the 20-year-old to take the “redshirt year” anyway.
Okeke is coming off a devastating ACL injury that knocked him out of the 2019 NCAA tournament. Before the injury, many draft boards had the athletic forward as a lottery pick. The injury dropped him into the Magic's lap at 19th overall.
Okeke had an excellent sophomore season at Auburn. In 38 games, he averaged 12.0 points a game, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor.
As the face of Auburn basketball, he took the team all the way to the Sweet Sixteen. The aforementioned ACL injury prevented him from playing any further games, and Auburn was knocked out in the Final Four by eventual champion Virginia.
Okeke was known for his polished game and defensive range that allowed him to match up against guards and forwards alike. It's likely that the Magic sees him fitting a combo forward role slightly similar to fellow Magic forward Jonathan Isaac.
The Magic will have a tough decision on their hands in the upcoming days on whether to bring Okeke on to the roster this year or let him develop and recover in the G-League.
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