Chuma Okeke News, Rumors, Updates - New York Knicks

Let go by Knicks The Knicks waived Okeke on Saturday.

Impact 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.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Back with Knicks Okeke and the Knicks agreed to a training camp deal Wednesday, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.

Impact 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.

OCTOBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Let go by Knicks The Knicks have waived Okeke on Saturday, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Inks contract with Knicks The Knicks agreed to a deal with Okeke on Thursday, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.

Impact Okeke averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.2 minutes across 47 appearances, including eight starts, for the Mgaic in 2023-24. Now, the 25-year-old forward will have the opportunity to compete for depth minutes in New York's rotation.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

To become free agent 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.

Impact 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.

JUNE 29 • ROTOWIRE

Sticks in rotation, barely Okeke recorded two points (1-1 FG) and one rebound across two minutes during Tuesday's 118-106 loss to Houston.

Impact 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.

APRIL 10 • ROTOWIRE

Back to bench Okeke won't start Sunday's game against the Heat, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Will remain in starting lineup Okeke will start Monday's game against the Knicks.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Back to bench Okeke will come off the bench for Monday's game against the Knicks, Wendell Epps of Bally Sports Florida reports.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Delivers season-high 16 points 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.

Impact 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 only starting due to the team's lack of depth on the wings.

JANUARY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs season-high 10 rebounds 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.

Impact Okeke led the Magic in rebounding Tuesday, and it marked the first time he grabbed 10-plus boards in a game since March 20, 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.

JANUARY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Joins starting lineup Okeke will move into the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Nuggets.

Impact Franz Wagner was diagnosed with an ankle sprain on Friday and he hasn't been given a timetable just 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, one block and three triples in 27 minutes.

JANUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Rare appearance Wednesday 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.

Impact 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.

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Secures three rebounds 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.

Impact 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.

OCTOBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Haslem scores 24 in farewell, Heat top Magic 123-110

Udonis Haslem scored 24 points in his final regular-season game, Duncan Robinson added 20 and the Miami Heat tuned up for the play-in tournament by topping the Orlando Magic 123-11...

APRIL 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Back in rotation Sunday Okeke finished with three points (1-2 FG, 1-2 3Pt) and one rebound in 11 minutes during Sunday's 128-102 win over the Pistons.

Impact Okeke played more than five minutes for the first time since mid-February, although you could be forgiven for not even noticing he was on the court. At this point, it appears that Okeke is going to struggle to maintain a spot on the roster, given he is basically out of the rotation. While he can be a menace on the defensive end, his shortcomings on offense make him somewhat unplayable. Barring a shift to a much more favorable situation, Okeke can be ignored in all formats.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to action in loss Okeke (knee) closed Tuesday's 123-113 loss to the Raptors with zero points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and two rebounds in 13 minutes.

Impact Okeke was back on the floor for the Magic for the first time since Nov. 21, making his return from an extended absence due to arthroscopic knee surgery. The 24-year-old presumably will be on a minutes restriction on some level for at least a few more games, though he may not get the chance to push far past the level of playing time he received Tuesday anyway. Orlando was without Jonathan Isaac (rest) and Cole Anthony (wrist) for the back end of the back-to-back set Tuesday, so if both players are ready to go when the Magic open their post-All-Star-break schedule Feb. 23 versus the Pistons, Okeke could find himself outside of the rotation.

FEBRUARY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back with NBA squad Orlando recalled Okeke (knee) from the G League's Lakeland Magic on Sunday, and he's not included on the injury report in advance of Monday's game at Chicago.

Impact For the first time since late November, Okeke looks like he'll be available off the Orlando bench for the team's two-game road trip, which concludes Tuesday in Toronto. Okeke had been sidelined with a sore left knee before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure in late December, but he was cleared to rejoin Lakeland on Feb. 6 to begin the ramp-up process. After his knee apparently responded well to 19- and 25-minute cameos in the G League on Friday and Saturday, respectively, versus the Salt Lake City Stars, Okeke will be an option for the NBA team moving forward. However, Okeke may not have a spot in head coach Jamahl Mosley's rotation, given that all of Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Jonathan Isaac and Bol Bol look to be ahead of him in the pecking order at either forward spot.

FEBRUARY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out Saturday Okeke (knee) won't be available for Saturday's game against the Heat while he remains on assignment with the G League's Lakeland Magic.

Impact Okeke appears to be healthy again after requiring arthroscopic left knee surgery, but Orlando is having him regain conditioning in the G League before clearing him to rejoin the NBA squad. Because he's a young player who may not have a regular spot in the NBA rotation the rest of the season, Okeke could play at least a few more games in the G League before getting called back up to Orlando. After being assigned to the G League on Monday, Okeke made his first appearance for Lakeland in Friday's 124-115 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars. He played 19 minutes and finished with 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-6 3Pt), two rebounds, one steal and one block.

FEBRUARY 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Assigned to G League Okeke (knee) was assigned to the G League's Lakeland Magic on Monday, but there's still no timetable for his return to game action, Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Impact Okeke hasn't played since Nov. 21 and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of November. He was expected to be re-evaluated a month after the procedure, but he remains without a timetable heading into the All-Star break. Despite the bleak outlook, Okeke's status will remain day-to-day until the Magic release an official timeline for his return.

FEBRUARY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Still out Okeke (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against the 76ers.

Impact Okeke hasn't played since Nov. 21 and underwent an arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of November. He was expected to be re-evaluated a month after the procedure, but the Magic have yet to provide another update. Okeke's availability will be handled on a game-by-game basis moving forward, but it's unclear if he'll suit up anytime soon.

JANUARY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not available Monday Okeke (knee) will remain out for Monday's game against the Celtics, Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Impact Okeke was due for a re-evaluation on his left knee earlier this weekend after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure one month ago, but the Magic have yet to provide an update on where he stands in his recovery. With no news that the young forward has resumed practicing in any capacity, Okeke can likely be safely ruled out for the entirety of the Magic's upcoming four-game week.

JANUARY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Magic's Chuma Okeke hasn't progressed to on-court work yet after knee surgery The Orlando Magic left for and returned from their 2-3 West Coast trip the healthiest they’ ve been all season. Okeke missed 13 consecutive...

JANUARY 18, 2023 • MERCURYNEWS.COM

Out another month after procedure Okeke underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee Tuesday and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Impact Okeke has missed 14 consecutive games while being listed as out with left knee soreness and will now be sidelined for at least another month after having surgery. The 2019 first-round pick posted 5.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.8 minutes across the first 18 games of the season, including seven straight starts before suffering the injury. Okeke's prolonged absence has opened up more playing time for Bol Bol, who's been a revelation this year.

DECEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Still sidelined Okeke (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against Atlanta.

Impact Okeke hasn't played since No. 21 due to left knee soreness. It's unclear when he'll be able to suit up again, but his next chance to do so will arrive Wednesday in Houston.

DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

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Haslem scores 24 in farewell, Heat top Magic 123-110