Chinanu Onuaku

Chinanu Onuaku
C – 6’10, 245lbs - 21 years old - 2 years of experience

Chinanu Onuaku’s numbers with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, 2016/17:

51 games, 27.2mpg, 12.5ppg, 10.6rpg, 2.1apg, 1.8bpg, 1.2spg, 4.0fpg, 2.6TOpg


Chinanu Onuaku’s numbers with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, 2017/18:

42 games, 25.2mpg, 10.7ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2bpg, 1.0spg, 2.7fpg, 2.5TOpg


That’s not improvement. Well, the fouls are, but that’s not going to cut it alone.

As the Rockets are on the cusp of the title, they need to prioritise immediate help. Onuaku was not that this year and surely will not be that next year. The Rockets also have ambitions for massive talent upgrades this summer, which puts every player that isn’t Harden or Paul in a state of flux. Every player that isn’t one of those two has an uncertain future with the team, as they may need to go for both trading purposes or financial savings.

If Clint Capela’s role is up in the air because of that, then rest assured that Chinanu Onuaku’s definitely is.

Player Plan: Guaranteed one year of minimum salary remaining but that might need pawning off unless they really do see internal progression. Easy enough to move if so.

Chinanu Onuaku
C, 6’10, 245lbs, 20 years old, 1 year of experience

In a very long D-League run-out, Onuaku showed he is a natural rebounder, a capable and efficient finisher around the basket if not a creator, and an intriguing shot blocker, who is going to commit a whole bunch of fouls and turnovers alone the way. This is fine from a bench player, especially one so young, and one with a .661% true shooting percentage. Has two more guaranteed seasons on his NBA contract and figures to be a rotation player by the end of them.

Player Plan: Two guaranteed minimum salary seasons remaining. In a similar situation as Harrell, albeit one spot further down the depth chart and with much less proven.