Josh Robbins: The Magic will start Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, Dwayne Bacon, Chuma Okeke and Wendell Carter Jr. tonight against the Rockets in Orlando. Steve Clifford said Mo Bamba (bruised hip) will attempt to play.
Chuma Okeke Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 08/18/98
Height: 6-8 / 2.03
Weight:230 lbs. / 104.3 kg.
Salary: $3,121,080
Born: 08/18/98
Height: 6-8 / 2.03
Weight:230 lbs. / 104.3 kg.
Salary: $3,121,080
Paul Garcia: Chuma Okeke is available for the Magic today per Coach Clifford. He’ll be on a minutes restriction
Josh Robbins: Rookie power forward Chuma Okeke will not play against Milwaukee tonight because he has a sore right hip, Magic officials said.
Even more important than what Okeke did on the court was the way his teammates spoke about him afterward. In media interviews during this pandemic season, Okeke has seemed like an introverted, humble 22-year-old. Yet to hear his teammates tell it, Okeke is one of the most well-liked youngsters to join the Magic in years. He is a player whom other players root for unabashedly. Ross described him as his “little brother,” and that speaks volumes.
“You all don’t see the Chuma I see,” Ross said. “Chuma is always goofing around when I see him. He’s a funny dude. It’s the guys that don’t say much — when they do say something, that’s pure comedy. Chuma’s one of those guys. You’ve got to get to know him. He’s like a young kid. He’s a young dude right now. This is all new to him. It’s taken a little bit for him to get out of his shell.”
The front office likes him, but the fact remains that the Magic will have an overabundance of power forwards who will be under contract next season: Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke and Al-Farouq Aminu (assuming Aminu exercises his player option). Orlando could start Isaac at the four and start Gordon at the three next season, but while that alignment would be lethal defensively, it would be subpar offensively because of its limited floor spacing and shot creation. In addition, in December the Magic signed Isaac to a four-year extension that will run through the 2024-25 season. So it looks like Isaac is Orlando’s long-term choice at power forward, even though Isaac has struggled with injuries. Because Gordon will become an unrestricted free agent in 2022, I think the Magic will try to trade him before next season, most likely to find help on the wings.
