Atlanta Hawks: How Jahlil Okafor can assert himself at training camp

The Atlanta Hawks have a number of new players as they enter the 2021 training camp. One of the ones who is going to fight the hardest for his future is Jahlil Okafor who the Hawks signed to a non-guaranteed deal recently.

With the depth of the Hawks squad, it seems unlikely that he will make the roster but stranger things have happened. However, as they say, you have to be in it to win it and Okafor has made it to training camp.

However, now that he is there, Okafor now needs to show that he is worth risking on the final roster spot. There needs to be a point of difference between himself and the other players vying for this position and he needs to demonstrate why he should be the man signed early and often.

The Atlanta Hawks could use an offensively minded big man like Jahlil Okafor

Okafor needs to display his offensive prowess at the start of camp, showing why he was such a high pick in his draft class. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu both need help to create their own shots which does work, but occasionally when Trae Young is not on the court they need a player who can hit the scoreboard without the help of his ball-handlers.

Gorgui Dieng is a point of difference with his ability to shoot the 3-ball which is going to make the Hawks harder to defend. With this ability, he could play alongside Okafor to give the Hawks a level of versatility that they have not had in a long time.

Okafor’s offense should see him ahead of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot who is a defensive-minded wing who shoots the 3-ball at an average rate. The Hawks have a number of these players already on their roster already. While they also have Johnny Hamilton and A.J. Lawson on the roster, it is going to take something amazing to get them into the final roster spot.