The Atlanta Hawks are one of the deepest teams at every position in the NBA right now. After last season’s horrific run with injuries, they would be quite happy with the redundancy that they have at each position. The problem is going to be for the coaching staff to find enough playing time to go around.
This problem is slightly alleviated in the frontcourt for the first three months of the season with Onyeka Okongwu being out due to shoulder surgery. Thankfully the Hawks signed Gorgui Dieng for a single-season deal which takes the pressure off Clint Capela.
There is every possibility that the Hawks will be looking to make a trade this season to further upgrade their roster. If they go for another star as Travis Schlenk has stated then it should be Danilo Gallinari or Capela who will be moved. However, they have the ability to make a lower-level trade as well.
The depth of the Atlanta Hawks makes an Onyeka Okongwu trade possible.
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Onyeka Okongwu is an undersized center. He stands only 6’8″ but plays bigger than that except when he is playing against a true big man like Joel Embiid. Unfortunately, this is when his lack of size becomes an issue. He is just too small to compete against players of this magnitude.
Capela and Dieng are both 6’10” and this size is important. Justin Hamilton is also on the squad but it is difficult to see him getting much playing time. There is also another factor in why it is a possibility that Okongwu gets traded.
Spotrac has him listed as a power forward and the Hawks are very well stocked in that position. John Collins has recently re-signed with the Hawks on a five-year, $125 million deal. On top of that, Danilo Gallinari is in the middle of his 3-year deal. Newly drafted Jalen Johnson and the re-signed Solomon Hill can also play this position
While the Hawks may look to move on from Gallinari, given the size of his deal. Contenders may look to try and get him towards the deadline. However, the Hawks are looking to contend again this season and Gallinari was a key piece for this team last season.
If Okongwu was to be traded it would likely be to a rebuilding team. While it would be sad to see him get traded, there is no doubt that if the right trade came his way, Schlenk would not hesitate to make this team better.