We didn’t see much of Chuma Okeke with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2024-25, and now we won’t see him at all.
According to Michael Scotto, the Cavaliers have declined their $2.55 million team option on Okeke.
He averaged 5.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in his nine games last season, playing for both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cavaliers.
He is now a free agent, looking for another home in the league, but it’s not clear if he will find one.
Just In: The Cleveland Cavaliers declined the $2.55 million team option on Chuma Okeke, sources told @hoopshype. Okeke becomes an unrestricted free agent. He averaged 5.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in nine games total for the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers this season. pic.twitter.com/Fgro2HZxhm
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 29, 2025
This move doesn’t free up a lot of money for the Cavaliers, but it does clear up some.
Okeke hardly played for Cleveland, notching just 2.5 points and 2.0 rebounds during his two games with the Cavaliers.
No one is surprised to see him leave the team, but they are hoping he can move on and end up with a squad that really needs and gets the most out of him.
Okeke entered the league in 2019-20, but wasn’t able to play because of an injury.
He got his start in 2020-21, but some people have said he never fully recovered from his devastating injury and didn’t play as people expected.
With Okeke gone, fans are wondering if the Cavaliers will make other minor adjustments like this one.
Which other players could be leaving the team in the weeks and months ahead?
$2.55 million isn’t a huge sum of money for the team, but it could make a difference if they shed other salaries.
Although it may not seem like it, this could be a pathway to landing a big-name star in the summer.
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