Orlando surprised people when they took Chuma Okeke out of Auburn at No. 16 in last June’s draft. Yes, the 6'8" forward has potential as someone who could defend multiple positions, and his shot improved, but he has a long way to go and he was coming off a torn ACL that would force him to miss most if not all of the coming season.
Orlando’s plan now is to sit Okeke for this coming season, let him rehab, then sign him to his rookie contract and bring him in next summer, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Sources: The Orlando Magic plan to redshirt No. 16 overall pick Chuma Okeke this season. Creative move by both sides allows Okeke to focus on ACL rehab while still being in team's long-term plans and receiving salary of 16th pick.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 23, 2019
Redshirt year for Okeke includes signing his four-year rookie deal in 2020 offseason. https://t.co/XB7MpDN157
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 23, 2019
Since “redshirt” is not an actual NBA thing, what this likely means is Okeke signs a G-League contract with the Magic team in Lakeland, Fla., and spends the season recovering. Maybe he plays in a few games near the end of the season, depending upon how rehab goes. Then, next summer they sign him, have him play Summer League, and basically treat him like a rookie. That works for both sides.
Having Chuma Okeke sit out the season benefits both sides. Okeke will earn an extra $1M by signing next summer under the 20-21 rookie scale. ORL are currently $3.8M below the tax (w/o Okeke- he would have count $3.1M) and can use the 2 open spots on a player(s) that can help now.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) September 23, 2019
It’s a good option for a Magic team that has a mix of solid veterans — Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier — and what they hope are emerging young players such as Jonathan Isaac, Mo Bamba, and Markelle Fultz. In an East that feels wide open, especially after the top four, the Magic are eyeing a return to the playoffs and hope to do some damage there.
On that kind of team, Okeke was not going to get the kind of focus he likely needed. Now he will.
