The Atlanta Hawks are a good bet to be one of the most improved teams in the NBA next season. After going 40-42 last season, the Hawks are poised to take a big step on the shoulders of their new offseason additions. However, it will be one of their returning veterans who will provide the most value on his current contract.
Onyeka Okongwu Will Be One of the Most Team-Friendly Contracts in the NBA
Entering his sixth season in Atlanta, Onyeka Okongwu is finally living up to the hype he came into the league with as the sixth-overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. It took a few years for the former USC standout to get his legs under him in the NBA and earn a starting spot. Now that Clint Capela is no longer in Atlanta, Okongwu has a chance to start and play over 30 minutes per game for the first time in his career.
With Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Kristaps Porzingis in the frontcourt mix, it is not a guarantee that Okongwu will start. The significant improvement the 24-year-old center showed in the final stretch of last season, however, suggests that it should be Okongwu who should get the nod over Risacher for the remaining starting spot next to Porzingis and Johnson.
After the All-Star break last season, Okongwu averaged 15.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists to go alongside a block and a steal per game. Most notably, however, it was his 38% shooting from downtown on almost three attempts per game that raised Hawks fans' eyebrows. In fact in the Play-In loss against the Miami Heat that ended Atlanta's season, Okongwu went a whopping 4/8 from three, teasing what he is capable of on the offensive side of the ball.
Okongwu's defensive versatility and his ability to guard multiple positions have never been in question. It was his offensive game that lagged a little behind. Now that he is showing significant improvement on that end, he will have one of the most team-friendly deals in the league next season.
The versatile big man is under contract for three more seasons for a total of $48 million. His 2025-26 salary of $15 million is way below market value for starting centers, making him the most obvious Hawk to potentially outplay his contract.