The Hawks' greatest weakness all throughout the 2025-2026 NBA season was their failure to rebound the ball.
Typified by the Knicks, down 2-1, toppling Atlanta thrice en route to elimination thanks to their incredible dominance on the glass, the Hawks must address the issue of rebounding that seems to have swept all across the league the last handful of seasons.
The league has gone through trend after trend - eras are often shaped by sweeping movements to gain a slight advantage over other teams. In the mid-2010s, the three-point revolution changed everything. Now, in the 2020s, it's all about positional size and generating extra possessions.
The Hawks have remained ahead of the curve in many aspects, thanks to the leading prowess of Onsi Saleh. Having earned runner-up 2026 Executive of the Year honors, it's clear that Saleh possesses a deep understanding of where the organization must continue to grow.
Enter Hannes Steinbach.
Hannes Steinbach's player profile and beautiful fit with Atlanta
Steinbach demonstrated his dominance on the glass all season long for the Huskies, accumulating a whopping 11.8 rebounds per game at the collegiate level - something nearly unprecedented amongst sub-7 footers.
His 6'11 frame and 7'2 wingspan combined with his quick feet (for his size) allow Steinbach to position himself favorably everywhere on the court, especially on the offensive glass. Combine that with his soft touch around the rim (think Spurs-era Jakob Poeltl), and you have a recipe for success down low.
The edge that Steinbach provides over fellow elite collegiate rebounder Aday Mara lies in his NBA-ready jumpshot. While Mara has wowed scouts this summer with his shooting at the NBA combine, Steinbach has a proven 34% long-range shot.
Steinbach is a particularly interesting player to evaluate at the NBA level due to the mystery of where he'll best fit in - is he better as a slightly undersized five, or a very large, big-bodied four? Atlanta would likely use Steinbach at the five, a position where he's more adjusted thanks to his tenure with the Huskies.
The one problem with Steinbach - at least for Atlanta - appears to be his mocked selection range. The Washington product consistently falls in the 12-18 range across expert boards, squarely between where the Hawks select at 8 and 23.
What move makes the most sense for the Hawks to acquire Steinbach?
By far the most intriguing option for Atlanta to position themselves to draft Steinbach lies in Oklahoma City.
OKC owns not only the 12th pick, but also the 17th in this year's draft. Add to that Sam Presti's ever-openness to move up or down in the draft and his prior statements wishing to move into the top-10 in this year's lottery, and OKC becomes the clear front runner for the Hawks to negotiate with.
Another option for Atlanta to consider would be the Hornets. Possessing both the 14th and 18th picks, Atlanta could potentially wrangle both for the 8th pick in the draft. There's no guarantee that Steinbach will make it to 14, but if the opportunity presents itself, don't expect Onsi to shy away.
Whichever route Atlanta elects to take in order to move up or down in the draft, one thing is certain - Hannes Steinbach would not only be an immediate band-aid for the Hawks' lack of rebounding, but his youth and tantalizing ceiling as a dominant stretch four/solid five could make Atlanta a force to reckon with down low for years to come.
Add us as a preferred source on Google