Do the Atlanta Hawks still pick Onyeka Okongwu in the latest 2020 redraft?

So Dan Favale of Bleacher Report has done a 2020 NBA re-draft with the focus being on who would be taken with the No. 1 pick. As the Atlanta Hawks were not going to get that selection they have only ever been interested in the No. 6 pick and they used it in 2020 to take Onyeka Okongwu.

In previous redrafts the Hawks have still selected Okongwu based on his defense and his ability in the pick and roll, particularly with Lou Williams. Their connection was good in Okongwu’s rookie season after the Hawks traded for Williams, but it is growing even further this season.

However, this re-draft does not see Okongwu in the sixth slot. It does not even see him in the lottery. Favale believes that due to injuries and limited playing time, Okongwu would be a good selection at No. 15. Given how he has played since his return from injury, his defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid to go along with his improved offense, this is hurtful to the Hawks big.

Atlanta Hawks big man Onyeka Okongwu needs to use this as motivation for the rest of the season.

Favale used energy to justify Isaiah Stewart being selected with pick No. 11. Energy is the hallmark of Okongwu’s game and he is showing a much more refined offensive ability than the Detriot Pistons sophomore. Okongwu is also a better rim protector than the Pistons big.

Then there is pick No. 8 where Favale has talked about Deni Avidja’s potential, showing what he could do. He focuses on 55.0 plus percent on 2-point field goals and 50.6 percent on drive. He also states Avdija has upped the ante on defense. Okongwu has kept one of the best post defenders, Clint Capela, on the bench at the end of games with his defense. Oh, and he is shooting 71.9 percent from the floor with a higher scoring average than Advija.

Then there is Patrick Williams, who Favale has as pick No. 7 which is certainly very interesting. Yes he is an interesting 3-and-D prospect but Okongwu is showing us what he can do at the moment. Williams is still very much an interesting level of potential but is injured right now. To date Williams and Okongwu have played the same number of regular season games which is 76. The difference is that Okongwu was impactful in his 18 playoff appearances last season.

Lastly, of the players in front of him who have little right to be there is the player Favale says should have gone with pick No. 6, Devin Vassell. The two have a very similar defensive rating over the last two seasons with Okongwu being slightly better at 110 to Vassell’s 111 of points allowed per 100 possessions.

However, if you look at the offensive rating of the pair, Vassell is vastly inferior. His rating is 108 for his first season and a half whereas Okongwu is 130 point per 100 possessions. While Vassell is averaging five more minutes per game over his career, Okongwu is money when he gets onto the court, Vassell is not as good.

Okongwu fits the role that the Atlanta Hawks need him to play and the skills of Vassell are repeated so many times on the Hawks current roster. The fact that Favale rates him at No. 15 is difficult to stomach given the impact he has on the team.