Okeke couldn't crack the Opening Night roster, and now the forward will look for an opportunity elsewhere. He spent the previous four years of his career with the Magic, making 55 starts and 189 regular-season appearances with them.
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Knicks' Chuma Okeke: Back with Knicks
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Okeke and the Knicks agreed to a training camp deal Wednesday, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.
The Knicks waived Okeke in order to process the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. However, they will bring Okeke back to camp to give the forward a chance to make the final roster.
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Chuma Okeke: Let go by Knicks
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The Knicks have waived Okeke on Saturday, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.
The Knicks have been active over the last few days when it comes to trimming their roster down, and outside of parting ways with several players in the trade that saw them acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, they've now waived both Okeke and Marcus Morris. Okeke could pursue an opportunity with another franchise, but if not, he could suit up for the Westchester Knicks in the G League.
The Knicks agreed to a deal with Okeke on Thursday, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
Okeke averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.2 minutes across 47 regular-season appearances, including eight starts, for the Magic in 2023-24. Now, the 25-year-old forward will have the opportunity to compete for depth minutes in New York's rotation.
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Chuma Okeke: To become free agent
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The Magic did not extend a qualifying offer to Okeke on Saturday, making him an unrestricted free agent, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
This move is a hardly a surprise, as Okeke failed to make the rotation on a consistent basis in 2023-24. The forward made just 47 appearances for the Magic, averaging 2.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.5 three-pointers in 9.2 minutes.
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Magic's Chuma Okeke: Sticks in rotation, barely
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Okeke recorded two points (1-1 FG) and one rebound across two minutes during Tuesday's 118-106 loss to Houston.
Okeke logged two minutes in the loss, taking to the floor for the second straight game. It's been a rough season for Okeke, playing just 45 games, during which he has averaged 9.4 minutes per contest. On a Magic team with lofty expectations, it's hard to see him carving out a meaningful role at any point in the future.
Okeke won't start Sunday's game against the Heat, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter are all returning to the starting lineup, so Okeke, Caleb Houstan and Goga Bitadze will head to the bench, ending a string of eight straight starts for Okeke. As a starter, Okeke averaged 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals-plus-blocks in 27.3 minutes per game, but he figures to see a reduced workload as a reserve.
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Magic's Chuma Okeke: Will remain in starting lineup
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Okeke will start Monday's game against the Knicks.
A previous report had Anthony Black replacing Okeke in the starting lineup, but Orlando will stick with the same first five for a fifth straight game, meaning Jalen Suggs, Caleb Houstan, Paolo Banchero and Goga Bitadze will start alongside Okeke. As a starter (five games), Okeke has averaged 6.0 points 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 28.4 minutes per game.
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Magic's Chuma Okeke: Back to bench
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Okeke will come off the bench for Monday's game against the Knicks, Wendell Epps of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Anthony Black is jumping into the first unit alongside Jalen Suggs, Caleb Houstan, Paolo Banchero and Goga Bitadze. Orlando is starting to getting healthier after a brutal stretch of luck, so Okeke's minutes could trend down.
Okeke logged 16 points (6-10 FG, 4-8 3Pt), four rebounds, two assists and one block in 29 minutes during Friday's 99-96 loss to the Heat.
Okeke started for the fourth consecutive game and stepped up when the Magic needed him most, ending with a season-high scoring mark. However, Okeke hadn't scored more than three points in any of his previous starts, so fantasy managers should temper his expectations, as Okeke is starting only due to the team's lack of depth on the wings.
Okeke contributed three points (1-10 FG, 1-8 3Pt), 10 rebounds, one assist and one block over 27 minutes during Tuesday's 113-92 loss to the Timberwolves.
Okeke led the Magic in rebounding Tuesday, and it marked the first time he grabbed 10-plus boards in a game since March of 2022. It was about all he was able to contribute, as he missed all but one of his 10 shots in a game that saw the Magic held to 36.2 percent shooting in the loss. Okeke has registered seven-plus rebounds in each of his last four games.
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Magic's Chuma Okeke: Joins starting lineup
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Okeke will move into the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Nuggets.
Franz Wagner was diagnosed with an ankle sprain Friday, and he hasn't been given a return timetable yet. The Magic have a handful of other injuries they are dealing with as well, so Okeke will have perhaps his best opportunity of the season Friday. Okeke fared well Wednesday against the Kings, scoring 11 points with seven rebounds, three assists, a block and three triples in 27 minutes.
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Magic's Chuma Okeke: Rare appearance Wednesday
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Okeke supplied zero points (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and two assists in five minutes during Wednesday's 139-120 victory over the Wizards.
Okeke appeared for just the eighth time this season, logging five minutes in garbage time. With the Magic arguably the hottest team in the league right now, there is simply no way for Okeke to be anything more than a blowout option. Simply put, there is no need to consider him a viable fantasy asset.
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Magic's Chuma Okeke: Secures three rebounds
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Okeke finished Wednesday's 116-86 win over the Rockets with zero points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and three rebounds over five minutes.
Okeke saw some minutes off the bench in Wednesday's blowout win and was unable to connect on his lone field-goal attempt. He averaged 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game over 27 appearances last year, and it seems as though he'll struggle to find consistent playing time once again during the 2023-24 campaign.
