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One of the vital widespread “butterfly results” in sports activities is when a veteran participant suffers an damage and opens the door for a youthful prospect who by no means lets the prospect go. One of many extra well-known current examples got here with the Golden State Warriors when a David Lee damage led to a beginning function for Draymond Inexperienced and a four-championship dynasty. Whereas not as near being a contender, it’s one thing that could be taking place for the Atlanta Hawks as we communicate.
Onyeka Okongwu, taken by the Hawks with the sixth choose within the 2020 draft, has loudly asserted himself because the beginning middle of their future and doubtlessly of their current. After enjoying the function of backup middle for the previous two years behind Clint Capela, Okongwu’s quantity was known as to begin after Capela went down with a calf strain a couple of weeks in the past.
Over Okongwu’s last fifteen games, all of which he’s been the starter exterior of the December twenty third match in opposition to the Detroit Pistons, he’s boosted his stats as much as a wholesome 11.4 factors, 9.6 rebounds, and a couple of.3 blocks per recreation on 62.2% taking pictures from the sector. That’s an enormous enchancment on how he’s completed all 12 months, because of the rise in minutes performed.
Throughout those self same fifteen video games, the Hawks have gone 8-7 with the Twelfth-best internet ranking within the league off of the power of the Tenth-best defensive ranking. Each had been enhancements over Atlanta’s efficiency earlier than Capela’s damage (twenty third in internet ranking and seventeenth in defensive ranking), and the offense has solely been a tad worse as nicely.
The place has Okongwu improved most for the Hawks?
The largest space of enchancment for Okongwu has been in his uptick in blocked photographs. Though he isn’t the tallest middle, he makes use of his uncommon mixture of instincts, timing, and ferocity to incinerate makes an attempt on the rim. Okongwu’s rim presence is just extra imposing than Capela’s ever was:
Though it’s at all times going to be tough to assemble a top-half protection that options Trae Younger, Okongwu’s capability to have an effect on photographs on the rim, cowl floor along with his fast toes, and swap onto smaller gamers at the very least offers the Hawks hope.
One other space that Okongwu has excelled in as a starter is his rim strain on offense. He’s been a titanic lob risk and imposing screener since he entered the league, however enjoying elevated minutes alongside Younger and Murray, he’s been in a position to showcase his alley-oop and choose’n’roll ending much more:
The thunderous finishes had been already one thing that Okongwu had in his bag; what’s been extra attention-grabbing are the opposite kinds of paint finishes that he’s demonstrated throughout this run. Utilizing lithe footwork mixed with aggressive strikes to attain off the quick roll isn’t what Okongwu’s had the prospect to indicate on the NBA degree till this breakthrough and he’s taken full benefit to indicate them off:
Most of those performs are flashes of Okongwu’s growth, however they paint a compelling image: not solely can Okongwu present the identical protection, rebounding, and ending as Capela, however he nonetheless has room to develop on each ends and lift the group’s total ceiling.
The place does Okongwu’s growth depart Atlanta?
With the NBA commerce deadline quick approaching, it’s price serious about whether or not now’s the time for Atlanta to maneuver in a drastically completely different path with their roster. Whereas many of the commerce discuss facilities round John Collins, because it appears to yearly, there could also be some credence to transferring Capela to a different group as a substitute.
From a purely monetary perspective, transferring on from Capela in favor of Okongwu would release sufficient cash for the Hawks to signal a premium function participant within the offseason. They’ll have Okongwu locked up for the same time period as nicely, alongside along with his Fowl Rights to assist their extension negotiations.
It’s not like Capela is washed, both. He is probably not as productive from a rebounding or scoring perspective this season, however he’s a succesful middle in his prime who can nonetheless positively have an effect on profitable basketball for a group within the hunt for the playoffs.
Shams Charania at The Athletic has already reported that Boston and Toronto are taking a look at Jakob Poeltl in a commerce. Capela may come cheaper and provides them the same bruising inside participant. Atlanta may doubtlessly seize a participant like Payton Pritchard, or Gary Trent Jr. to juice their offense.
From the Western Convention, each the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks could wish to money of their commerce property and seize Capela to spice up their inside presence. Snatching a plus shooter like Lu Dort or Reggie Bullock would assist Atlanta’s spacing and taking pictures hierarchy.
Or the Hawks may maintain Okongwu and Capela. Most groups within the NBA would admire the expert depth that the Hawks have of their frontcourt.
At some point, the Hawks will hand the reigns of their protection and inside scoring off to Onyeka Okongwu. With how he performed throughout his beginning stretch, it appears to be like like he’ll do his greatest to make that timeline shorter and shorter.
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