The Atlanta Hawks did a masterful job of revamping the roster in the offseason, adding quality veterans to key positions. Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard should help make the Hawks a more formidable team. Add a healthier season from Jalen Johnson, and the Hawks may make a deep postseason run in the Eastern Conference.
To ensure East contender status, however, the Hawks need to make another move or two. The most obvious need for the team is frontcourt depth. Porzingis is a clear upgrade in the rotation, but he has clear health concerns. Besides Onyeka Okongwu, the rest of the big man rotation consists of unproven youngsters. While Asa Newell and Mouhamed Gueye could be serviceable options, another capable bench piece would do wonders for Atlanta.
Hawks Should Consider Adding Precious Achiuwa Through Free Agency
Fortunately for the Hawks, there is an unsigned free agent who would be an excellent addition to the big man rotation. Precious Achiuwa, who spent the past two seasons with the New York Knicks, is one of the best remaining frontcourt players on the market. Considering that he could likely be signed on a minimum deal, the Hawks should pounce on the opportunity.
Achiuwa's offensive game didn't develop the way many had hoped for when he was the 20th-overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. But he quickly turned into one of the most versatile defenders of his position. He can guard all five positions, switch out to the perimeter, and make plays on and off the ball. He is not the rim protector Porzingis is, but the combination of his size, strength, and athleticism would provide a different element to the Hawks' bench units.
Ideally, Atlanta would add more shooting and shot creation before the season. Unfortunately, that may be difficult to achieve with the remaining crop of free agents. GM Onsi Saleh may need to turn to the trade market to find more offense, but he would be hard-pressed to find a better defender than Achiuwa with Atlanta's remaining resources in free agency.
The Hawks have wisely surrounded Trae Young with as many elite defenders as possible. Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Johnson, and Okongwu should help the Hawks be a solid defensive unit. Adding someone like Achiuwa would further help make up for Young's defensive deficiencies.