NBA Draft 2019 Prospect Watch: Chuma Okeke

BIRMINGHAM, AL - DECEMBER 15: (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, AL - DECEMBER 15: (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 29: (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 29: (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

Fit with the Bucks

With his injury setting his draft stock back quite a bit, there’s a very good possibility Okeke will be available by the time the Bucks are on the clock with the 30th overall pick.

And if it wasn’t for that injury hanging over him, it would be very easy to see the appeal of the Bucks picking Okeke. That arguably still holds even with the concerns over the long-term stability of Okeke’s knee considered.

The blend of shooting, physical qualities and intangibles that Okeke possesses all checks the boxes the Bucks are looking for to fill out their roster around their core group of players, superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo being the crown jewel of the bunch.

The key question will be whether Okeke’s versatility can hold up at the next level because his ability to play on the wing will be tested to some degree when he’s back to full health.

That will likely be a key question the Bucks are asking as they have shown to have solid interchangeable forwards behind Antetokounmpo who can slot up to playing the role of center nominally, between Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson.

Next. NBA Draft 2019 Prospect Watch: Talen Horton-Tucker. dark

Again, it’s hard to ignore the cold reality of Okeke’s current health status. But he’s shown to be the quintessential role player and provided he can return to the player he was before his injury, he’ll be a player teams such as the Bucks will covet to build out their roster.