Atlanta Hawks' big man Onyeka Okongwu had an excellent back half of last season after breaking into the starting center spot that Clint Capela had held for years. It was the best offensive stretch of his career, averaging 15.0 points per game on remarkable efficiency and chipping in an impressive 10.0 rebounds a night.
While Okongwu dazzled statistically, he didn't address the biggest question that has plagued his career: Is he a starting-level defensive center? Sam Vecenie said he is not in his 2020 re-draft, where he took Okongwu 13th, below Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart. Vecenie defended this with the rationale that Okongwu allowed opponents to convert 60% of their field goal attempts at the rim, an eye-popping increase from Stewart's 46%.
Vecenie argues that Stewart's advantage as a rim protector over Okongwu is more valuable than Okongwu's offensive advantage. Stewart is an excellent comparison to Okongwu as a fellow undersized center. Stewart's interior defense is better than Okongwu's, however, due to his anomalous physical gifts. He has a 7'4 wingspan and is one of the strongest players in the league, enabling him to cut off driving opponents and challenge them at the rim.
The modern NBA is largely positionless, but the one role that has not been phased out is the rim-protecting five. If a team does not have someone playing solid help defense in the paint at all times, they'll find a glass ceiling on their playoff aspirations.
Each of the last 10 teams to win the Finals has had an elite interior defender on their roster, either at the four or five. Jalen Johnson is a good defender, but he cannot fill the full-time center role on that end. For the Hawks, their rim protection will have to come at the center position.
The Hawks need rim protectors behind Kristaps Porzingis
In the Boston Celtics' 2024 Finals-winning playoff run, Kristaps Porzingis played in just 7 of their 19 games. He played in all 11 playoff games last season, but his minutes dropped by 27%. The Celtics remained competitive, however, because of their depth at the center position. Al Horford and Luke Kornet are both solid rim-protecting centers who could hold down the fort with Porzingis off the court.
Okongwu hasn't proven he is capable of the same high-level interior defense yet. While he is an impressive perimeter defender, the Hawks need at least one rim-protecting center behind Porzingis. If Okongwu cannot prove he is fit for the job by mid-season, the Hawks may have to make a move for another big man to beef up their rotation.
Okongwu will always have a role on this Hawks team, even if Atlanta adds another center. Jalen Johnson also has a worrying injury bill, and the Hawks have an unproven power forward rotation. With his perimeter skills on both ends of the court, Okongwu could be an excellent option as a backup at the four.