The Atlanta Hawks had a few difficult decisions to make this offseason. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu were locked in for the next few seasons. However, the Hawks had not been able to secure the signature of John Collins the previous summer and if he chose to leave, the Hawks were going to be awfully thin in the paint.
As a result, they signed Gorgui Dieng which makes the frontcourt look a whole lot different from last season. It also took the pressure off their need to sign Collins. His market dried up pretty quickly so both sides were able to come to a contractual agreement for five years, at $125 million.
However, the Hawks were not content to stop there, they added Johnny Hamilton on an exhibit-10 deal at the start of free agency. Then, after most of the dust had settled of free agency, the Hawks then signed Jahlil Okafor to a non-guaranteed contract.
Atlanta Hawks battles for the center position during training camp
Training camp is where reputations can be won and lost. Okafor is trying to rebuild his reputation after a massive fall from grace during his career. He was the third pick of his draft and was named to the All-Rookie team. Now he is trying to simply earn a spot on a roster for next season.
He is up against fellow big man Hamilton who is fighting for his chance to get into the league. This is a true motivator for any player, particularly considering it is surely also be the last chance he will have to make it in the league.
However, one battle that the Hawks have that fans may not have thought about is the backup big man role. Dieng is only signed to a one-year deal. If Okafor or Hamilton are able to outplay Dieng, then there is a chance that the Hawks will trade or waive Dieng.
Ont thing is for sure, as soon as training camp opens the big men are going to be going hard at each other on the court. The team is going to benefit as a result.