The Cavaliers and Celtics have an interest in signing former Louisville center Chinanu Onuaku, the MVP of the Israeli league this past season, as relayed by Aris Barkas of Eurohoops.
While the Cavs have interest, it had not been determined if they intend to bring Onuaku for a workout. The Eastern Conference champion Celtics, however, already have intentions to bring him in at the end of the month, Barkas wrote.
Onuaku, 25, is 6-foot-11 and has been playing in the Israel Basketball Premier League title with Bnei Herzliya. As Barkas noted, traditional Israeli power Maccabi Tel Aviv also has Onuaka radar.
He was originally selected by the Rockets in the 2016 draft (No. 37 overall), and spent the first two seasons of his career in Houston. He was traded to the Mavericks in August 2018 and waived four days later.
Since then, he has played in the G League or Israel, with stops in Korea and Croatia. Both the Cavs and Celtics are looking for help in reserve in the frontcourt, particularly when it comes to the center position.
Onuaku is averaging 15.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 29 games with Bnei Herzliya. He has appeared in just six NBA games for his career. But a few years of international experience, clearly, has him in the mix for an NBA job.
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