Orlando Magic Daily
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3 Orlando Magic players whose trade value decreased in 2023

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 05: Chuma Okeke #3 and Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic talk against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Amway Center on November 05, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 05: Chuma Okeke #3 and Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic talk against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Amway Center on November 05, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 07: Chuma Okeke of the Orlando Magic reacts against the Houston Rockets. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 07: Chuma Okeke of the Orlando Magic reacts against the Houston Rockets. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

3 Orlando Magic players who saw their trade value decrease

2. Chuma Okeke

If Cole Anthony’s inclusion here is tough, then the same cannot be said of Chuma Okeke. Last season was not a good one for him personally, and it felt like the rotation moved on without him.

This is a spot Mo Bamba once found himself in, and it is telling he is now with the Los Angeles Lakers and not playing there either.

On paper Okeke has value, and that is his ability to adequately guard scoring wings in the league.

But injuries limited Okeke to only 27 games in his third season (he will hit restricted free agency next summer), the fewest he has managed since entering the league.

Not only that, but he has to look on as Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero made the forward positions their own. Wagner especially looks like a future two-way wonder for the franchise. And with Jonathan Isaac now healthy and Bol Bol worth experimenting with, Chuma Okeke just does not have a lot of space in the rotation to take up.

Okeke is a career 32.3 percent 3-point shooter. Defensively, because of a lack of gametime, he is not improving at the rate that his potential once showed us he was capable of doing.

There is no doubt the Magic would trade Okeke if the price was right, but quite how low that price now is after a season spent in obscurity is unclear.

It flies under the radar. But Chuma Okeke is 24 years old, the same age as Markelle Fultz. And yet, any major leap forward has not looked like coming when he has been on the court.