Pacers Eye Onyeka Okongwu, but Hawks Unlikely to Budge
After striking out on their top center targets, the Indiana Pacers have reportedly turned their attention to Atlanta Hawks big man Onyeka Okongwu. But if they’re hoping for a quick deal, they might want to pump the brakes - this one’s going to be tough to pull off.
Let’s start with Indiana’s situation. With Myles Turner gone in free agency and Tyrese Haliburton still recovering from an Achilles tear, the Pacers are clearly not pushing all their chips in this season.
But they’re also not content to sit idle. The front office is already looking ahead, hoping to retool the roster now so they can hit the ground running when Haliburton returns next year.
They’ve already kicked the tires on Ivica Zubac and Daniel Gafford, two centers who fit the mold of what Indiana’s looking for: young, athletic, and capable of anchoring the paint. But talks haven’t gone anywhere. So now, according to reports, Indiana has reached out to the Hawks about Okongwu - a player who checks a lot of the same boxes, but comes with a whole different set of complications.
Why Atlanta’s Not Picking Up the Phone
Let’s be clear: Okongwu isn’t untouchable. But he’s about as close as it gets for a team like Atlanta, which is already thin up front and relying heavily on him to hold down the middle.
The Hawks are struggling defensively in the paint. They rank among the league’s worst in rim deterrence - meaning opponents are getting to the rim far too easily - and they’re near the bottom in both offensive and defensive rebounding. That’s a bad combination for any team, let alone one trying to stay competitive in the East.
Now, some of those numbers have been pinned on Okongwu, but a closer look tells a different story. When he’s on the floor, Atlanta’s rim protection improves.
So does their rebounding. He’s also one of the more efficient offensive centers in the league - a strong finisher, good in the pick-and-roll, and increasingly comfortable with the ball in his hands.
The problem isn’t Okongwu. It’s the lack of help around him.
A Fit That Makes Sense for Indiana - On Paper
From Indiana’s perspective, Okongwu would be a seamless fit. Pascal Siakam could provide the kind of defensive support Okongwu hasn’t had in Atlanta, covering for his lack of elite size while giving the Pacers a versatile frontcourt tandem. Offensively, the Pacers’ up-tempo, ball-sharing system could unlock more of Okongwu’s game, especially his face-up skills and ability to create off the dribble.
It’s a smart target. But there’s a big difference between identifying the right player and actually prying him away.
The Market Reality
Atlanta has no reason to move Okongwu unless they already have another starting-caliber center lined up - and those aren’t exactly easy to find. Zubac and Gafford, the same players Indiana was chasing, would make sense for the Hawks too. But unless Atlanta is already deep in talks for one of them, trading Okongwu would only deepen their problems in the middle.
That’s where this whole rumor starts to lose steam. Indiana reportedly made the call to Atlanta after failing to gain traction with the Clippers (Zubac) and Mavericks (Gafford). If they weren’t willing to meet the price for either of those players, it’s hard to imagine they’d offer enough to make Atlanta even consider parting with Okongwu - who’s younger, under team control, and arguably more dynamic than either.
Bottom Line
Indiana made the call. They’re doing their due diligence, and that’s what smart front offices do. But unless something changes dramatically - either in Atlanta’s roster plans or Indiana’s willingness to up the ante - this feels like a dead end.
Still, Hawks fans can take some satisfaction in the fact that other teams are circling Okongwu. For a player who’s had to defend his value against skeptics who can’t see past his 6'8" frame, this kind of interest is a pretty strong endorsement.