76ers signing former first-round pick to second 10-day contract

Chuma Okeke, who played one game for the Sixers on a 10-day contract last month, will return to the team on another 10-day deal, sources tell NBA insider Marc Stein. Stein adds that Okeke will be available for Sunday afternoon’s game at Dallas.

The 26-year-old combo forward inked his first 10-day contract on Feb. 7, but was waived after just six days when the team promoted two-way player Jared Butler to the 15-man roster. Okeke saw two minutes of action in his only appearance, finishing with no points and one rebound.

Apart from his brief NBA appearance, Okeke has spent the season with the Knicks’ G League affiliate in Westchester, averaging 18.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 25 regular-season games.

Okeke was mentioned as a potential addition for New York when the team became financially eligible to add a 15th player in late February. New York opted to sign P.J. Tucker to a 10-day deal instead.

The Sixers have a full roster, but they are able to make additions through 10-day deals under the hardship exception because they have four players who have missed at least three consecutive games and are expected to remain sidelined for at least two more weeks. Free-agent forward Oshae Brissett signed a 10-day contract with the team on Friday.

If Okeke’s deal becomes official on Sunday, he will be eligible to appear in six games before it expires on March 25. Players are limited to two 10-day contracts per team in a season, so the Sixers would have to give him a standard deal to keep him any longer.