Onyeka Okongwu Rumors

One name that Pelinka reportedly made calls about was Atlanta Hawks young big man Onyeka Okongwu. The 24-year-old is in the first year of a four-year, $62 million contract, and while he is slightly undersized at the position, brings athleticism and strong defensive instincts. Dave McMenamin of ESPN spoke about L.A.’s pursuit of Okongwu on “Straight Fire” with Jason McIntyre when asked if he has heard any buzz surrounding the Lakers’ interest: “I have. Before the Mark Williams trade, and I can’t tell you all the names on that list but I actually assume he was one of the names on the list that Rob Pelinka presented to Luka because I do know the Lakers made a call to the Hawks around the trade deadline about Okongwu. I think lob threat, athleticism, absolutely. In terms of being a perfect fit, maybe not. They might not get a perfect fit though. Clint Capela of ’17-’18 might have been a perfect fit but we’re in ’25-’26 now. So that is kind of the spot they’re gonna be in. I am of the opinion to not go all in on a Claxton or someone who makes $20-30 million… They’re gonna have the taxpayer mid-level available to them, so I’d try to go and get a guy at that level and if he doesn’t prove to be the best fit, make sure you’re holding on to one of your picks and then you can try to pursue something come February.”

Lakers Nation

A few mad scientists, including the Sixers' Kelly Oubre Jr. and the Magic's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, sometimes even mix the powder and the cream. "It's a good combo," Oubre says. Even fewer players swear by a third product, Mission Power Grip, a liquid chalk that comes in gray tubes the size of travel hand sanitizer bottles. "That's always been my thing," the Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu says.

ESPN

Young is by far Atlanta’s biggest issue, but he’s not the only one. Snyder is still under contract and oversaw young players like Johnson, Daniels, Risacher, Okongwu and Gueye making progress. Snyder has also gotten Young to try on defense. However, Snyder might have an interest in pursuing other openings, especially if the Spurs job becomes available.

New York Times

Courtside Buzz: HEAT WIN! MIAMI HEAT BEAT THE ATLANTA HAWKS IN OT OFTHE PLAY-IN, 123-114, & WILL FACE THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS IN THE FIRST ROUND! 🍿 Tyler Herro: 30 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST, 10/21 FGM Andrew Wiggins: 20 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST, 8/17 FGM Davion Mitchell: 9 PTS in OT Onyeka Okongwu: 22 PTS, 12 REB, 12/19 FGM Trae Young: 29 PTS, 11 AST, 9/22 FGM

x.com

NBA Communications: Other nominees ... West: Luke Dončić (LAL), Anthony Edwards (MIN), Aaron Gordon (DEN), Aaron Wiggins (OKC) and Ivica Zubac (LAC). East: Scottie Barnes (TOR), Onyeka Okongwu (ATL), and Payton Pritchard (BOS).

Twitter

Atlanta Hawks: An @emoryhealthcare injury report for tomorrow’s game vs. Orlando: Dyson Daniels (rest): Questionable, Caris LeVert (right knee; injury management): Questionable, Georges Niang (rest): Questionable, Onyeka Okongwu (left knee; injury management): Questionable, Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis; injury management): Questionable

Twitter

Anthony Davis capped his most complete performance in a Dallas Mavericks uniform with a sequence that displayed his two-way brilliance to close out a 120-118 win Wednesday night over the Atlanta Hawks. Davis scored the go-ahead basket, driving left for a floater over Atlanta's Onyeka Okongwu with 3.4 seconds left. After the timeout, Davis smothered Hawks star guard Trae Young on a switch, forcing a tightly contested step-back 3 that failed to draw iron at the buzzer.

ESPN

After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer, league sources told HoopsHype.

HoopsHype

Malik Brown: Hawks defeat the Warriors 124-115 Trae Young finishes with 25 points and 10 assists, Onyeka Okongwu finishes with 22 points and 12 rebounds, Georges Niang finishes with 23 points. Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels, and Caris LeVert also finish in double digits

Twitter

Sources told HoopsHype that the Hawks and Pelicans had several three-team trade conversations, which included two of the following four players leaving Atlanta in different trade scenarios for Ingram that ultimately fell through: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, De’Andre Hunter, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Hunter and Bogdanovic were traded to the Cavaliers and Clippers in separate deals. Atlanta is ideally not looking to go over the luxury tax threshold next season, HoopsHype has learned, which will play a role in the team’s roster construction this summer and the futures of those veterans.

HoopsHype

Caleb Johnson: Onyeka Okongwu on his game ending foul of Victor Wembanyama, "For a play like that the officials should let the players play...especially for a dude like him. Dude is like eight foot. He shouldn't be getting that call and the end of the game like that."

Twitter

The promotion to the starting lineup was a reward for how well Onyeka Okongwu played recently and an opportunity to see what he could do as a starter, league sources told HoopsHype. With Clint Capela’s recent move to the bench in the final year of his contract at $22.27 million, executives around the league are monitoring the veteran center on the trade market. Yet, with Cleveland roughly $1.9 million above the luxury tax threshold, NBA executives are monitoring whether Cleveland will try to duck the tax with a trade.

HoopsHype

NBA Communications: Other nominees … West: Devin Booker (PHX), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac (LAC), Scoot Henderson (POR), Trey Murphy III (NOP) and Jamal Murray (DEN). East: LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams (CHA), Darius Garland (CLE), Damian Lillard (MIL), Onyeka Okongwu (ATL) and Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner (IND).

Twitter

Michael Scotto: The Atlanta Hawks are inserting Onyeka Okongwu into the starting lineup at center and moving Clint Capela to the bench. Okongwu has averaged 18.3 points on 60.6% shooting from the field 15.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 blocks in his last three games.

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