Less than a week after Wooden Award finalist Johni Broome, head coach Bruce Pearl and the Auburn men’s basketball squad advanced to the Final Four, a member of the last Tigers squad to reach that stage just secured a big opportunity. Chuma Okeke suffered a torn ACL in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2019 NCAA Tournament and therefore was unable to share the stage with his teammates. He is hoping to partake in a championship celebration this year, though. The Cleveland Cavaliers (61-15) have agreed to a contract with the 26-year-old forward, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Okeke was competing for the Westchester Knicks in a playoff game against the Maine Celtics on Thursday night, but he leaves the arena as the newest member of the presumptive No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference (five-game lead with six left to play). He averaged 6.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from 3-point land in seven games for the Philadelphia 76ers this season.
When the Orlando Magic selected Okeke with the No. 16 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, they were counting on him to become a key component of their future. Those expectations were obviously not met, but the Georgia native can still potentially serve a worthwhile reserve role for the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers are preparing for potential setbacks
Although head coach Kenny Atkinson knows he cannot replace Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen if misfortune befalls them, it is crucial that Cleveland has enough frontcourt depth in the playoffs. In almost every postseason, there is an unlikely bench player who makes a valuable impact under the bright lights. The Cavs have a number of guys who can conceivably attain that label in 2025, but Chuma Okeke might just find himself in the mix as well.
What a story that would make. A former first-rounder who started his NBA career in recovery mode gets his moment with the championship hopeful Cavaliers. If that tale is penned, president of basketball operations Koby Altman might just get handed the key to the city.
