The Los Angeles Lakers tried building a new championship contender midseason after the acquisition of Luka Doncic fell into their lap. After acquiring Doncic, the team sought to maximize their generational point guard by adding a powerhouse center next to him. They acquired Mark Williams, though the trade had to be rescinded. Now, the hole at center continues to loom large and will likely be the Lakers’ No. 1 priority in the summer.
Their center search could have them call the Atlanta Hawks‘ phone in the summer to see what the franchise might want for Onyeka Okongwu. Okongwu has been next in line to be the franchise’s future center but just hasn’t emerged as triumphantly as expected. With him already on a long-term contract, the in-transition Hawks could look to derive additional assets out of their fringe core players.
The Lakers might pay a pretty penny for Okongwu.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Onyeka Okongwu
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Rui Hachimura, 2031 First-Round Pick (LAL)
This deal sees the Hawks receive a winning forward who they could use or flip for additional assets. The real prize in the 2031 first-round pick the Lakers were supposed to send to the Hornets, with the pick having incredible future upside given LeBron James‘ inevitable retirement and the potential fears around Luka Doncic’s health or him leaving as a free agent in 2027.
Lakers Give Doncic The One Thing He Wants On The Court
The Dallas Mavericks did a poor job in giving Luka Doncic the kind of rim-running center he’s always wanted. The second he got players like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, his play elevated to a higher level as he led the team to the Finals. He’s making Jaxson Hayes look more playable than he has at any point in his Lakers stint, which shows how he can elevate rim-running and shot-blocking centers.
Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 13.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks this season. If the Lakers are still looking for young centers who fit the profile of what Doncic wants around him, Okongwu is the perfect fit. He has a high motor, has mobility that won’t make him a perimeter liability, and he is a hard-nosed role-player who will be motivated to maximize the advantageous positions centers who play with Doncic get.
This deal elevates the Lakers as a whole, with the team not needing to play someone like LeBron or Dorian Finney-Smith out of position to cover the need for a center outside Hayes. Okongwu is not just a short-term solution but a long-term one, as the 24-year-old center can thrive alongside Doncic for years to come.
The Hawks Consolidate Assets
The Hawks aren’t going in any direction right now. The team is going to enter the Play-in Tournament for the third season in a row, which will likely result in a third Playoff appearance in a row and a third first-round exit in a row. The team has tried freshening up their core this season with trades sending Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter away. However, the team needs to do more.
Dumping Okongwu for a fresh start might be the next thing on the team’s to-do list. Adding Hachimura to their exciting group of forwards would be a great move, especially with the forward averaging 13.1 points and 5.2 rebounds this season. He could be another piece they move for additional assets or find him in their rotation alongside Zaccharie Risascher and Jalen Johnson.
Getting that future first-round pick will be the Hawks’ primary objective, as that’s a decent return for a player like Okongwu. It shows the team is committed to shedding long-term salaries while re-tooling the core around players like Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Trae Young.
Lakers Take The Next Big Step
This deal gives the Lakers another piece for their core going forward. We don’t know how much longer LeBron James intends on playing, but if he’s coming back for next season, this greatly boosts the Lakers’ chances of winning a title before he retires. After he’s gone, the Lakers will have to find a way to replace his presence, but at least their center rotation will be sorted nonetheless.
The Hawks add a player they can maximize in the short term by either deploying him on the court or trading him away. This is mainly just adding draft assets given they still owe future picks of their own to other teams, so adding a Lakers pick could provide great value later. It’s a smart deal for both franchises and it’s one we should keep an eye on for the summer.
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