Onyeka Onkongwu: Hawks' former top-10 pick is ready for the next step

Onyeka Okongwu has improved yearly since the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He has learned from 10-year veteran Clint Capela for his entire tenure on the team, and the two of them have given the Hawks 48 minutes of an adequate center rotation for the last few seasons.

Now that the 2024-25 season has begun, it is time for the mentor to let his pupil shine. 

Okongwu’s youth and athleticism are why he should be in the starting lineup. He has produced multiple stellar performances off the bench and recently dominated in the Hawks' season opener versus the Brooklyn Nets. In just 28 minutes, he achieved a career-high 28 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked three shots. Doing this without being in the starting lineup should entice Head Coach Quin Snyder to at least consider it. 

Many Hawks fans online have called for Okongwu to become the starting center for at least the last two seasons, but it hasn't happened because of what Capela brings. He was one of the league’s best offensive rebounders and paint defenders in his prime. During the Hawks Eastern Conference finals run of 2021, he averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds per game.

In 2022, the rate of his injuries increased in both of his legs. He suffered numerous calf, ankle, and knee injuries throughout the season. It has led to a slight decline in his performance while Okongwu is still improving.

Clint Capela's decline is evident, and with his contract ending, the Hawks must make a decision soon

Capela can finish lobs for Trae Young but can’t create offense when forced to score in the paint by himself. Last season, he averaged 11.5 PPG & 10.6 RPG, but the double-double can blind casual fans to his impact on the floor. In a recent matchup versus the Washington Wizards on October 28th, he finished the game with 16 points and only four rebounds. 

Hawks PR announced that Okongwu was out due to soreness in his left big toe, forcing them to fair without his skillset. His absence magnified the effort level between him and Capela. Without his paint presence, Kyle Kuzma finished with 11 rebounds while playing the small forward position, and center Jonas Valanciunas out-rebounded Capela as well, finishing the game with nine.  

Another massive takeaway from the Wizards matchup was Larry Nance Jr's performance off the bench, which gave the Hawks a massive boost. The 10-year veteran has become a great locker-room presence in a short amount of time, and his playstyle fits the Hawks system perfectly. His jump shot spreads the floor and the roster thrives in a five-out offense. Capela is the only big man on the team unable to shoot threes, and he clogs the paint when not utilized in a pick-and-roll.

It is no secret that the front office has not extended his contract and he will receive $22 million once it ends next summer. He will want a pay raise if the Hawks choose to negotiate an extension, and the front office is finally in a position to let him leave in free agency. Even though he will want more money, he is declining at the age of 30 and will not be worth the contract. Okongwu turns 25 years old next season and will be ready to start heading into year six.

Unless the Hawks can find a midseason trade to remove Capela’s contract and flip him for a draft pick, they will go into next summer with no extension, making him an unrestricted free agent. The front office has already extended Okongwu on a team-friendly four-year $61 million extension that began this season.

With Capela gone, the starting spot will be available for Okongwu with the security of a backup center in Nance Jr. Once the 2025 NBA draft arrives in June, they can use the Lakers' pick to select a promising young center. Drafting a big man would complete the three-man rotation and fully unlock Atlanta's new brand of basketball. Inserting Okongwu into the starting lineup will mark a new chapter in the Hawks' journey to construct a championship contender, and it is a possibility now more than ever.