{"id":141091,"date":"2025-05-23T08:57:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T12:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=141091"},"modified":"2025-05-23T14:45:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T18:45:48","slug":"hawks-should-entertain-lakers-interest-big-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/23\/hawks-should-entertain-lakers-interest-big-trade\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawks Should Entertain Lakers Interest In Big Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Lakers won the biggest prize in the 2024-25 regular season with the league-altering acquisition of All-NBA point guard Luka Doncic<\/a>. However, as their brief playoff run underscores, they\u2019re not a championship team yet. While Doncic and LeBron James<\/a> are capable of leading L.A. to a title, they need the right supporting cast.<\/p>\n

To that point, one area the Lakers are expected to make an offseason upgrade is at center. Anthony Davis<\/a> is gone. Christian Wood<\/a> has been waived. Jaxson Hayes<\/a> and Co. gave it their best but it wasn\u2019t good enough.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, while speaking to Fox Sports\u2019 Jason McIntyre on Straight Fire<\/em>, ESPN\u2019s Dave McMenamin revealed that Los Angeles has interest in Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu.<\/p>\n

Hawks Should Entertain Lakers Interest In Onyeka Okongwu Trade<\/h2>\n

\u201c\u2026I can\u2019t tell you all the names on that list<\/a>,\u201d McMenamin tells McIntyre, \u201cbut I actually assume he was one of the names on the list that Rob Pelinka presented to Luka (Doncic) because I do know the Lakers made a call to the (Atlanta) Hawks around the trade deadline about (Onyeka) Okongwu.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dec 6, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots over Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2024-25, a career season, Okongwu averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. He started in a career-high 40 games, a decision that was made<\/a> in mid-January. He also shot 32.4 percent from 3, converting a career-high 48 attempts.<\/p>\n

At 6-foot-8, he has inherent size concerns. In fact, the Hawks allowed 50.5 points in the paint per game in 2024-25, tied for 21st in the NBA. This was despite having a myriad of respectable-to-exceptional perimeter defenders. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old is a versatile and athletic big man capable of making a positive impact on a playoff contender.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, the Lakers could still be motivated enough to make a reasonable offer for Okongwu.<\/p>\n

Eeny, Meeny, Miny\u2026<\/h3>\n

In their voided trade<\/a> for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams<\/a>, the package included Dalton Knecht<\/a>, Cam Reddish<\/a>, a 2030 first-round pick swap and their coveted 2031 first-round pick.<\/p>\n

Reddish has since been waived<\/a> but Hawks should find value in all of those pieces.<\/p>\n

In Knecht, the Hawks would acquire a shooter who may be closer to Klay Thompson<\/a> (offensively) than Zaccharie Risacher<\/a>. Neither the Lakers can truly predict how well their team will look in 2030 or 2031. Even if Trae Young<\/a> or Doncic are still on their respective teams, they\u2019ll both be at least 30 years old. This adds\u00a0to the importance of future drafts.<\/p>\n

However, Okongwu will make $15 million in 2025-26 salary, and Atlanta would need an additional piece to match salaries.<\/p>\n

It would behoove Los Angeles to offer Gabe Vincent<\/a> as he\u2019s the least potent of these options. Conversely, Atlanta has demonstrated interest in Austin Reaves<\/a>, whom the Lakers have placed a high price tag on. On a value spectrum, Dorian Finney-Smith<\/a> and Rui Hachimura<\/a> are between those two, making them more realistic targets.<\/p>\n

Dorian Finney-Smith<\/h3>\n

Finney-Smith\u2019s game is more refined than Hachimura\u2019s, as he\u2019s essentially an archetypal 3-and-D forward. At 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, the nine-year veteran is a career 36.2 percent 3-point shooter. He\u2019s long held a reputation as one of the league\u2019s better defenders as well, holding his own on the perimeter and the post.<\/p>\n

\n

Dorian Finney-Smith with back to back threes and lock down defense on OG Anunoby \ud83d\udd12<\/p>\n

DFS coming up big for JJ Redick and the Lakers off the bench pic.twitter.com\/eokrzzwKiD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LakeShow Highlights (@LSH_lakeshow) February 2, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n