The Hawks have a decision sitting right in front of them, and it comes with a deadline attached.
Onyeka Okongwu has been extension-eligible since the beginning of the month, and Atlanta must reach an agreement today if it wants contract clarity now instead of kicking the discussion down the road. Okongwu, 25, is heading into his seventh season in the league and is the longest-tenured player in the organization, but his long-term future in Atlanta is still unsettled.
There’s no question the Hawks have reasons to keep him in place. Their starting five has been one of the league’s most cohesive groups, and a big part of that success has come from the advantages Okongwu creates with his versatility at center.
The team also has momentum. Atlanta was one of the hottest clubs in the league after the All-Star break last season, and it was the only NBA team to take two games from the eventual champion Knicks in the postseason.
The organization didn’t treat that finish like a reason to panic. Instead, it used the season as a guide for where the roster still needed work and moved forward with the same promising core. That approach fits the steady climb the Hawks have made under Quin Snyder, with the team improving its record every season since he became head coach.
Still, the question isn’t just whether Okongwu is valuable. It’s whether locking in significant long-term money now is the best use of Atlanta’s financial room.
The Hawks have spent the last couple of years building up roster and salary flexibility, and that space exists for a reason. They’ve shown they’re willing to spend when the timing makes sense.
At the same time, a strong season could change the math fast. If Atlanta keeps trending upward, Okongwu’s camp could be looking for even more in next year’s extension window. That’s part of what makes today important: the cost of waiting may not stay the same.
There are real positives here, but there are also concerns that have made it difficult for the top decision-makers to build a strong paint defense. As the NBA keeps getting bigger and more talented, the Hawks know they have to stay in step.
President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh has already shown a willingness to make the kind of tough calls some teams avoid. If a deal doesn’t come together today, Atlanta could let the process play out and revisit things later, even as far out as free agency in the summer of 2028.
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Hawks Face A Roster Squeeze If This Big Man Hits The Market
Moussa Cisses name is starting to circulate as the Mavericks weigh their roster ahead of the October 19 deadline, and that has put a handful of teams on alert. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Bulls, Hawks, Lakers and 76ers are among the clubs keeping an eye on the big man if Dallas decides to waive him, with the appeal centered on a low-risk chance to add size before the season fully gets going.
For Atlanta, the interest is easy to understand. The Hawks are always looking for help in the frontcourt, and a player like Cisse would at least give them another option to evaluate if he becomes available. The wrinkle is fit and timing, since a roster move would have to be made first, and Atlantas own big-man picture has already been affected by Henri Veesars offseason ACL injury, which could factor into whether Cisse eventually has a realistic path to minutes if the opportunity opens. [Read more 🡒]
Kingston Flemings Is Putting Real Pressure On Atlanta's Starting Five
Kingston Flemings has done more than just look comfortable in summer league and preseason, he has given Atlanta something to think about. His playmaking has stood out, and the clean way he has handled the ball has only added to the sense that he belongs in the conversation around the Hawks rotation as the season gets closer.
The bigger question is how far that momentum can carry once the games count. There is already speculation that Flemings could work his way into the starting lineup if his regular-season play keeps matching what he has shown so far, which would force a tougher decision on the guard group and open the door to a very different role for an established veteran. For now, it is just pressure, but it is the kind that can change a depth chart quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks May Have Found A Tough New Bench Look With One Catch
During the preseason, Quin Snyder has been tinkering with Atlantas second unit, and one of the more interesting looks came with Lu Dort sliding into a backup power forward role. The 27-year-old veteran brings the kind of physical defense the Hawks value, and his three-point shooting gives the bench a different shape than the more traditional frontcourt options on the roster.
It was a notable wrinkle in the finale against Dallas, especially with Asa Newell, Zuby Ejiofor and Mouhamed Gueye all left in other roles while Snyder explored the matchup. The setup gives Atlanta a tougher, more versatile look on paper, but it also raises a familiar question for any small-ball frontcourt group, how well it survives when the opposition rolls out a bigger interior presence. [Read more 🡒]