Hawks’ Onyeka Okongwu garnering interest on the trade block

The Hawks have been embroiled in trade rumors for weeks and have already made the first mid-season blockbuster deal, sending Trae Young to the Wizards, but that only appears to be the tip of the iceberg.

A potential move for Anthony Davis remains in the cards, even if his recent injury complicates things. The Hawks have also been linked as potential suitors for centers such as Daniel Gafford, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ivica Zubac. It’s overwhelmingly evident that Atlanta is not happy with its front-court situation, in large part because of Kristaps Porzingis’ inability to stay healthy. But there also appear to be at least some concerns about Onyeka Okongwu’s long-term standing with the team.

“The Hawks, according to conversations with rival executives, agents and former players, are unsure of the long-term prospects of Onyeka Okongwu and Mo Gueye at center from a contention standpoint,” Kelly Iko reported for Yahoo! Sports last week. “Atlanta is an average defensive team (16th in defensive rating, per Cleaning the Glass), but a core featuring Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Johnson and Davis has enough versatility and optionality to rewrite a narrative that would have been otherwise impossible with Young as the centerpiece.”

Okongwu, for all his offensive growth in recent years, has proven he’s not really capable of anchoring the paint for extended periods. He’s not a great rebounder, and his rim protection is well below average. His game is much more that of a stretch four than a true center, but he still brings a lot to the table, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting very efficiently from both the field and beyond the arc.

Additionally, Okongwu is on a fantastic contract, signed through the 2027-28 season and making just $16.1 million per year. So, it’s no surprise he’s garnering trade interest this time of year with the Hawks showing signs of reshuffling their frontcourt.

“I was told this week, for example, that Indiana has called Atlanta on Onyeka Okongwu in addition to its previously reported interest in players such as Dallas’ Daniel Gafford and the (perceived as much harder-to-get) Ivica Zubac of the LA Clippers,” Jake Fischer reports for The Stein Line. 

How much interest the Hawks have in moving Onyeka Okongwu appears largely unknown. He’s still young and has made tremendous strides over the last two seasons. If Atlanta were to move him, it would have to be part of a trade — or a string of trades — that leads them to a player better suited for the direction they are heading following the trade of Trae Young.