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Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu

Moderators: dms269, Jamaaliver, HMFFL

How do we grade the pick of Okongwu for our Hawks?

A
20
63%
B
8
25%
C
1
3%
D
0
No votes
Fail
3
9%
 
Total votes: 32

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#41 » by Ball4life32 » Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:49 am

I agree with Schlenk. He said his coach measured him to be 6’9 & change without shoes 8+ months ago. If correct, (& he still could be growing or has grown since then) 6’10+ in shoes - 245-250 pounds - 7’2 wingspan with his defense & I think he’s a perfect modern 5. Also I like another hybrid guy next to Collins with his two way potential.
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#42 » by _s_t_u_r_t_ » Fri Nov 20, 2020 5:58 am

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#43 » by tbhawksfan1 » Fri Nov 20, 2020 1:12 pm

OK.... who voted C :roll: :noway: :crazy:
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#44 » by Jamaaliver » Fri Nov 20, 2020 1:26 pm

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#45 » by azuresou1 » Fri Nov 20, 2020 3:36 pm

_s_t_u_r_t_ wrote:Schlenk's saying Okongwu is a 5 who may play some 4.

Don't know why the narrative has shifted in the last 24 hours as-if.

He was a college 5. He is an NBA 4.

In 5 years, as he grows, maybe he has the girth to get significant time at the 5.

In the meantime, we seriously need him to add a reliable jumper just to justify him getting minutes.


IMO he's an NBA 4.5 where his position is flexible and depends on who he's matched up against and who he's paired with.

Against a team like the Rockets, he's a 5. His superior mobility allows him to provide better help, and PJ Tucker can't hurt him inside. Offensively, he also has enough of a post game to shred them inside.

Against a team like the Nuggets, he's defensively a 4. He can't deal with Jokic's size in the paint. Ironically he would have paired great with a guy like Dedmon who has the requisite size, but also the shooting ability to space the floor and make up for Okongwu's lack of range.
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#46 » by PhilBlackson » Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:34 pm

Perfect pick for your squad imo.
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#47 » by D21 » Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:36 pm

azuresou1 wrote:Against a team like the Nuggets, he's defensively a 4. He can't deal with Jokic's size in the paint. Ironically he would have paired great with a guy like Dedmon who has the requisite size, but also the shooting ability to space the floor and make up for Okongwu's lack of range.


Not wrong at all...
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#48 » by HMFFL » Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:55 pm

Chris Kirschner: Onyeka Okongwu said he worked a lot on his shooting over the past several months. “All I’ve been doing is shooting the ball and shooting the ball. I really believe that with time I’ll be able to stretch the floor out consistently and be a great shooter.”

 

– via Twitter ChrisKirschner

 Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks



Sarah K. Spencer: Onyeka Okongwu says he got a second MRI done on his foot and it has improved since the last time he had it checked. So, positive news on that front. Says he thinks it won’t limit him in the season.

 

– via Twitter sarah_k_spence




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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#49 » by Jamaaliver » Sat Nov 21, 2020 11:34 pm

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#50 » by Spud2nique » Sun Nov 22, 2020 3:30 am

Welcome guys!!!

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#51 » by BadWolf » Sun Nov 22, 2020 2:09 pm

Seems an odd question for 6th pick, but what do you expect his role to be? That frontcourt just got crowded and he might struggle to get minutes with Collins, Capella, Galo, Hunter playing there.
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#52 » by jayu70 » Sun Nov 22, 2020 3:10 pm

BadWolf wrote:Seems an odd question for 6th pick, but what do you expect his role to be? That frontcourt just got crowded and he might struggle to get minutes with Collins, Capella, Galo, Hunter playing there.

Backup C behind Capela.
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#53 » by Jamaaliver » Sun Nov 22, 2020 6:06 pm

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As a freshman, Okongwu wasn’t just the best player on a 22-win Trojans team. But one of the most impactful freshmen in the school's history. He was the only player in the country to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per 40 minutes played, he set the USC freshman record with 76 blocks, and was named to first team All-Pac-12.

So how does Okongwu fit with his new team the Atlanta Hawks?
Admittedly, it’s not perfect. The Hawks traded a first-round pick for double-double machine Clint Capela at last year’s trade deadline. They also have John Collins coming off his rookie contract looking for his next big pay day. The opportunity won’t be like some other incoming rookies...Okongwu is going to have to fight for his playing time and prove that he can make an impact on the professional level at just 19 years old.

So how does Okongwu immediately help a team trying to get into the playoff picture?
The most obvious way is his defense. Despite only being 6-foot-9, don’t let his small frame fool you, Okongwu is a monster on the interior. What he lacks in size he makes up for in athleticism, anticipation and instincts. He can jump out the gym to make a block on the bigger sized opponents, while also quick enough to switch and stay in front of smaller bigs and wings.
Spoiler:
The Hawks finished last season giving up the third most points per 100 possessions (114.8) in the NBA. The Capela trade was supposed to help fix those issues, but he never suited up for the team due to injury. But now with a center rotation of Capela and Okongwu, the Hawks will get 48 minutes of elite interior defense on a nightly basis.

Offensively, Okongwu can get close to double-digits just off lobs and rolls to the rim. Trae Young is one of the most creative passers in the league, so those two running high pick-and-rolls is going to be devastating to stop. When Collins and Okongwu are on the floor together, the Hawks will have two bigs with the potential to play inside-outside. Collins is definitely the more developed outside shooter hitting 37% of his threes the last two seasons. But there is potential for Okongwu to grow in that area as well.

He was efficient on his catch-and-shoot opportunities within the arc last season, and his 72% free-throw percentage suggests he could at least be a big with a consistent elbow jumper. The Atlanta Hawks GM has already suggested the team will be able to extend Okongwu’s range to the three-point line.

Everyone wants Okongwu to be Bam Adebayo right away, but not even Adebayo was the player he is now coming out of college. It took three years for Adebayo to blossom into a big man that can initiate an offense and anchor a defense.
From the size to the college production, it's easy to see why the two get compared so frequently. But just like Adebayo, we have to be patient with Okongwu and let his skills develop.

In three years, we could be looking at Bam Adebayo as the poor man’s version of Onyeka Okongwu as they face-off in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#54 » by vtime » Mon Nov 23, 2020 8:39 pm

HMFFL wrote:Chris Kirschner: Onyeka Okongwu said he worked a lot on his shooting over the past several months. “All I’ve been doing is shooting the ball and shooting the ball. I really believe that with time I’ll be able to stretch the floor out consistently and be a great shooter.”

 

– via Twitter ChrisKirschner

 Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks

I was just about to ask about this. Our young bench mob of Huerter, Reddish, Hunter, and Okongwu should be excellent. Not sure Bruno will play much if Okongwu is healthy.



Sarah K. Spencer: Onyeka Okongwu says he got a second MRI done on his foot and it has improved since the last time he had it checked. So, positive news on that front. Says he thinks it won’t limit him in the season.

 

– via Twitter sarah_k_spence




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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#55 » by Spud2nique » Mon Nov 23, 2020 10:05 pm

Some people think Bruno will beat out Okongwu for minutes. :eek1: Yup, same one that wouldn’t trade Bembry for Jaylen Brown. Turd fail. :lol:
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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#56 » by Jamaaliver » Sat Nov 28, 2020 10:34 pm

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#57 » by HMFFL » Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:00 pm

Legendary streetwear designer Don C. gifts Onyeka Okongwu with exclusive apparel

The Hawks rookie collaborates with Kanye West’s best man on t-shirt design

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.peachtreehoops.com/platform/amp/2020/11/30/21724937/onyeka-okongwu-exclusive-apparel-legendary-streetwear-designer-don-c-atlanta-hawks-images-photos

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#58 » by Jamaaliver » Tue Dec 8, 2020 8:29 pm

They grow up so fast.

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#59 » by Spud2nique » Fri Dec 11, 2020 4:19 pm

Happy Birthday O

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Re: Welcome to Atlanta -- Onyeka Okongwu 

Post#60 » by jayu70 » Sun Dec 27, 2020 7:18 pm

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