After a lot of speculation surrounding the Hawks pursuit of Pascal Siakam, which the club is still reportedly interested in, we have pertenant information coming to light. Multiple reporters have said any deal for Siakam would require a third team, mentioning the Mavericks as a potential facilitator, given their interest in acquiring Clint Capela.
Dallas and Atlanta had talks before the draft that would have sent CC to the Mavs in exchange for their 10th overall pick. Nothing ever came to fruition, but it seems the Hawks haven’t stopped shopping the veteran center. According to Brian Windhorst, Clint Capela is on the trade block.
Capela has been a hell of a player for the Hawks since they acquired him from the Rockets some odd years ago. He’s been an anchor defensively, a menace on the boards, and an excellent pick-and-roll partner for Trae Young. However, I’ve been advocating for the Hawks to move him because of Onyeka Okongwu‘s upside.
The former 6th overall pick hasn’t blossomed as many hoped, but that can be attributed to a lack of opportunities. With Capela out of the way, he can assume a full-time role. He’s coming off a career year in which he averaged nearly 10 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while playing a career-high 23.1 minutes per contest.
OO’s skill set is intriguing. He’s already a better offensive player than Capela, but his greatest asset is his versatility on the defensive end. He’s able to switch 1-5 and has put some of the best offensive players in the league in a blender — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Karl Anthony Towns, and Joel Embiid.
I believe Okongwu’s ceiling is that of Bam Adebayo — an All-Defense, All-Star. Those are lofty expectations, but the kid developed some semblance of a jump shot in one offseason… imagine what he could do as a full-time starter. Eventually, the Hawks have to see what they have in Okongwu because his extension is on the horizon. Moving Capela is the most straightforward path to that.
More must-reads: