The Atlanta Hawks have done an admirable job upgrading their roster this offseason and firmly establishing themselves as an Eastern Conference contender. This group is arguably the deepest and most talented roster Atlanta had in the Trae Young era, exciting Hawks fans about what's to come in the future.
That doesn't mean, however, that there are no weaknesses on the roster. The center rotation has some question marks after the addition of Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian star's injury concerns require strong backups in the frontcourt, something the Hawks currently lack on the roster. One way to fix this problem would be to turn to the free agent market and sign a veteran big man to a team-friendly deal.
Precious Achiuwa Is the Perfect Team-Friendly FA Target for the Hawks
Among those options, none is a better fit than Precious Achiuwa. The 25-year-old combo big remains unsigned on the market and is the versatile defender that the Hawks desperately need.
Achiuwa spent the past five seasons bouncing around the Eastern Conference, playing for the Heat, Raptors, and the Knicks. He hasn't been able to take significant steps on the offensive side of the ball since being the 20th-overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but has established himself as a true difference maker on the defensive end.
At six-foot-eight and 225 pounds, Achiuwa has the size, strength, and athleticism to guard multiple positions. He has thrived in switching schemes that allow him to defend out on the perimeter thanks to his quick feet.
Achiuwa's lack of shooting or any half-court offensive game is the reason he has been in and out of rotations over the last few years. Unless he can be a threat on that end of the floor, the Nigerian big man will not be more than a bench player, but that may be good enough for the Hawks.
The Hawks don't need Achiuwa to play a large role or extended minutes. He can provide athleticism and intensity off the bench. Utilizing him when Trae Young is on the bench and deploying a switching scheme defensively on second units could be a solid alternative for head coach Quin Snyder.
Considering that Achiuwa will likely sign for a veteran's minimum deal, it behooves the Hawks to bring him in for one of their final roster spots.