Syracuse Basketball Alums: Arinze Onuaku Signs With Indiana Pacers

This morning, it was announced that former Syracuse Orange center/forward Arinze Onuaku has signed a free agent deal with the NBA's Indiana Pacers. It is a non-guaranteed contract, however, and he'll still need to work to make the roster and grab a more secure deal with the team.

In the NBA Summer League this year, Onuaku played with the Pacers, averaging eight points and 7.5 rebounds in five games. During the 2013-14 NBA season, he played for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans for brief stints, averaging .6 points and 1.6 rebounds in five appearances (three in New Orleans, two in Cleveland, respectively). He spent the rest of 2013-14 on the Canton Charge, Cleveland's D-League team, averaging 14.8 points and 10 rebounds in 32 games (started just 11 of those).

Onuaku's obviously figured out a way to elevate his game over the last couple years, seeing playing time in the NBA and becoming a force on the glass -- even in limited minutes. It'll be a tough road ahead, but chances are we'll at least see him somewhere for a few NBA games this season.

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Another brief Orange alum note this week comes from Westchester, NY, where the New York Knicks' new affiliate (the Westchester Knicks) selected Kris Joseph in Tuesday's D-League Expansion Draft. However, Joseph is already under contract with JDA Dijon of the French A-League, and won't be suiting up for the Knicks. That said, if he ever comes back to the D-League, his rights are owned by Westcheter.

Best of luck this season to Arinze, Kris and all the other SU alums, wherever they may be playing.