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Spoiler:

Onyeka Okongwu is a gifted athlete whose improved frame, budding feel inside, and versatility on the defensive end helped him emerged as one of the most intriguing center prospects in college basketball. Okongwu finished his prep career regarded as one of the top-20 prospects in the class of 2019. Heading to USC to play for Head Coach Andy Enfield, Okongwu stepped into a significant role at a true freshman starting every game at the center position and finishing as the Trojan’s leading scorer and rebounder.

Averaging 16.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, he earned All-Pac-12 1st Team honors while gaining considerable momentum ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft.

• Possessing good size at 6’9 with an above average wingspan and an excellent combination of quickness of leaping ability, Okongwu did a lot of his scoring last season above the rim. His 245-pound frame has improved significantly over the last two years, but his ability to maximize his frame remains a point of interest against traditional centers at the next level.
  
• Finishing the year ranked among the most efficient offensive players in college basketball, Okongwu’s athleticism and activity level off the ball made him a productive screener, lob threat, and rebounder. He also proved extremely effective in the post and shot a solid percentage from the free throw line. With good hands and budding coordination, he impressed in a role that it is easy to see him playing in the NBA.
  
• Showing considerable promise on the defensive end, Okongwu’s physical tools, timing, and effort-level made him a productive shot blocker, but his versatility shined at times as well. Regularly switching onto guards and holding his own, he has a rapidly developing feel for how to use his tools consistently on the defensive end.

PlayType Analysis

Thriving off the ball on the offensive end, Okongwu earned almost three-quarters of his touches by relocating inside, crashing the glass, running the floor, rolling to the basket, and running rim-to-rim. Scoring 1.39 points per shot around the rim in the half court [92nd percentile], he is a very bouncy finisher who is quick off his feet, aggressive embracing contact, and has a big catch radius for lob passes. More than just a dunker, he also flashes the ability to put the ball on the floor for straight-line drives, create angles with crisp footwork, and use the glass well.

Using a quarter of his possessions in the post, Okongwu was not featured heavily on the block, but was brutally effective splitting touches inside. Shooting nearly as well as he did as a finisher, he averaged 1.13 points per post up possession [94th percentile] as his decisiveness creating angles, quick feet, touch with both hands, and timing ducking in to gain position allowed him to score quickly and made him a magnet for fouls.

Facing quite a few double teams as the year wore on, Okongwu flashed some vision as a passer even if he was still getting used to seeing that kind of pressure. His growth as a decision-maker is a point of interest as he is not uncomfortable with the ball, scored 0.91 points per jump shot in the half court [55th percentile], and was quite reliable in the midrange. The fluidity of his shot broke down on long jumpers last season, but he flashed some promise outside of the paint.


Defensive Analysis

Impacting the game in a variety of ways defensively with his ability to block shots, rebound out of his area, and move his feet on the perimeter, Okongwu flashed significant upside last season and played with steady intensity. Able to challenge shots by virtue of his length and leaping ability, but also rotating early and using verticality well, he has some terrific building blocks as a rim protector.

Mobile enough to slide with many guards on the perimeter and cover the pick and roll in a variety of ways, Okongwu was regularly crossmatched last season. Even so, he spent much of his time defending the post where he allowed 0.82 points per post up possession [52nd percentile] as he held his own this season, but is still learning how to deal with bruising traditional centers with elite size.

6. Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC

The Hawks’ selection of Okongwu here is a commitment to shoring up their defense long-term behind Trae Young. Several teams attempted to trade up for him, but Atlanta’s comfort drafting ultimately won out and made him the choice here. Per sources, Okongwu is dealing with a toe injury that could cause him to miss a small amount of time to start the season, but that was a non-issue for teams as far as the medical piece was concerned. Atlanta’s recent trade for Clint Capela suggests Okongwu will come off the bench to start the season, or that the Hawks may move on from Capela. But Okongwu was the most NBA-ready defender among the available bigs in this draft, and gives the Hawks a young piece at the position they needed most long-term.

2020 NBA Draft: Live Grades for Every Pick

No. 6 Pick: Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks



Grade: B-

Remember wondering about whether the Atlanta Hawks could successfully balance both John Collins and Clint Capela in the frontcourt? Well, they just threw another big man into the mix with USC’s Onyeka Okongwu.

But if their board said he was the best prospect available, they were right to trust it. This could either set up a future transaction or perhaps set the foundation for a three-headed monster at the 4 and 5 spots.

While big bruisers might give Okongwu trouble, he won't face many of those in the modern NBA. Instead, he'll more often be tasked with switching out onto smaller, shiftier perimeter players, and that's where his mobility and hustle will shine.

His upside ranks somewhere in the Bam Adebayo realm, though it's not a perfect comparison. Okongwu doesn't have the same explosive athleticism or offer as much playmaking at the offensive end. Wasserman used Derrick Favors as the USC product's comparison, which provides a more realistic view of his ceiling.

Saying that, Okongwu can fit in the same finishing, rim-protecting, defensive-switching bucket. He'll need to expand his offensive niche, though, especially if he can't get much mileage out of his polished post game against bigger, longer defenders.

In a vacuum, Okongwu is a good value at this spot. The questionable roster fit, though, knocks the grade down a peg.

Radioblacktive1 wrote:I know Spud is losing his mind

azuresou1 wrote:Love the pick. BPA at 6 and a great fit for us. I thought there was a good chance he'd go Top 3.

He immediately can step in for us and be the first big man off the bench, and can play next to either Collins or Capella, although offensively it may be a bit clogged next to Capela.

Shades of Bam, and if he develops a reliable jumper... we got a squad

But everything about Okongwu checked out despite all of the obstacles. His production as a 19-year-old was impressive: more than 16 points per game on 10 shots, 2.7 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. He played as if every game was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. His effort is consistently one of the main points of emphasis scouts bring up. He shot 72 percent from the free-throw line, so there’s hope that he can develop a jump shot, but he did not display much shooting ability in college. According to Synergy, he had 16 catch-and-shoot attempts and made six.

The Hawks gave up more than 119 points per game last season, the worst mark in the league, and what Okongwu offers defensively is why they are so intrigued with him.

“That’s certainly his strength coming into the NBA,” Schlenk said. “He’s going to be a plus rebounder defensively. He’s going to be a rim protector, and the other thing he does is he moves his feet very, very well in pick-and-roll coverages, and as you guys know, that’s extremely important for big guys to be able to guard in pick-and-rolls. Those are his strengths coming in. He’s got great instincts.

“Improving defensively is important for our group. The foundation of your defense is your big guy. They’re kind of the quarterback of the defense. They’re on the back line. They see everything. They have to be communicators and talk to the rest of the group. When there are breakdowns, they have to come over and erase those breakdowns and pick guys up. That’s his strength, and that’s a very valuable strength in the NBA.”

Schlenk said he still expects Collins to get some minutes at the five, but it’s highly unlikely he comes close to playing nearly half of his minutes there because of Capela, Dedmon and now Okongwu.

With the center position being so crowded even before Wednesday night, it begs the question: Why draft another center? Schlenk has said all along that the Hawks were going to take the best player available — regardless of position — and he stuck by those words.

“I think what you’re going to see moving forward from us is that it’s not a given that guys get to play just because we draft you high,” Schlenk said. “You have to earn it. Hopefully, we’re not drafting high anymore.”

birdlives_ma wrote:Love the kid... not so sure about the fit, especially next to Capela. It was still the right move, as he was the best player available with a good head on his shoulders. I'm just so used to TS grabbing the best player available at our greatest position of need that this feels weird lol.

Best case though; he kills it and makes Clint expendable by the deadline