Chinanu

Onuaku

Onaku was selected 37th in the 2016 NBA draft but appeared in just seven professional games from 2016-18. He was recently named Israeli League MVP after averaging 15.3 points, 9.7 boards, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks for Bnei Herzliya. Still only 25 years old, there’s a chance for an NBA comeback for Onuaku.

He had a cardiac ablation procedure, which is just an outpatient procedure. LaMarcus Aldridge had a similar procedure earlier in his career and it hasn’t affected his playing time. Onuaku has first-round potential, but this recent issue may scare teams away. The 6'10" Louisville product averaged 9.9 points, 8.5 boards, 2.0 blocks and 0.8 steals in 24.6 minutes per game last season.

Onuaku will help backup the center position in Houston with Nene, which isn’t an ideal situation from a fantasy perspective. Unless your league rewards underhanded free throw attempts, Onuaku won’t be worth drafting in most leagues.

“I’m great. It’s no problem at all,” Onuaku said. “I feel I have more energy on the basketball court. It was [scary] at first, but when they told me that many guys have had it and they all played, I was fine.” It sounds like Dwight Howard is leaving Houston as a free agent, so Onuaku projects to be the backup center behind Clint Capela at the moment.

A minor heart concern last month may have caused him to slide, but Onuaku was impressive at Louisville last year with averages of 9.9 points, 8.5 boards, 2.0 blocks and 0.8 steals in 24.6 minutes. He is only 6’10" and doesn’t have much mobility to play at the four, but a 7’3" wingspan and 250-pound frame should help. With Dwight Howard unlikely to re-sign with the Rockets as a free agent, Onuaku could provide some depth at center behind Clint Capela.

“I think it shows he’s the most compliant kid in the history of college basketball,” Morey said, “because I bet coach [Rick] Pitino has told 500 kids to do that, and he’s the first one to say, ‘OK I’m going to try it.’” Morey also joked Onuaku will fit right in for being a sub-par foul shooter. The No. 37 pick may have also slipped in the draft due to a heart issue discovered in May. He’s a very good athlete and could make an impact at Summer League.

That’s up from 46.7 percent with a regular shooting motion as a freshman, and Onuaku dismissed all the attention that his ‘granny shot’ has received. “I really don’t care what people think,” Onuaku said. “As long as I get a bucket, I’m fine.” The Rockets are thin in the middle, which could open up playing time for Onuaku, but the 19-year-old big man won’t be helping standard-league owners this season.

It’s just a rest day for the veteran. Montrezl Harrell and Chinanu Onuaku should pick up some extended minutes in his absence tonight, but none of these guys can be considered standard league targets.

He won’t be in the rotation while Clint Capela and Nene are healthy.

They won’t be in the rotation while the Rockets are healthy.