With how well this season has gone, and the surprisingly excellent play of Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, the Celtics’ need for a center has certainly cooled a bit. But still, if they can add a young(ish) big man who fits what the team needs, and could be around for several years on a reasonable contract, that’s something they absolutely have to pursue.
One player who meets that criteria and has been linked to Boston for years is Onyeka Okongwu of the Atlanta Hawks. OO is just 25 years old and has taken a big leap this season, putting up 16 points and 8 rebounds per game with a dash of playmaking and very solid three-point shooting.
Just as importantly, he’s a good and versatile defensive player and offers rim protection and switchability better than most bigs. If the Celtics could ever get him into their building, it would be great to see how they could develop him and bring him to another level.
The question has always been, why would the Hawks trade him? But Atlanta has had a disappointing season, and they’re in a bit of a weird spot after trading their franchise player, Trae Young, to build around Jalen Johnson and what they hope will be a blue-chip prospect in the draft this season (they’ll receive whichever pick is better from the Bucks or Pelicans).
There’s a chance they may want to move off of Okongwu’s deal, which pays him $15 million this season, $16.12 million next season, and $16.88 million for the 2027-28 season. The combination of his age, ability, and contract would make for an ideal fit with the current Celtics; now they just have to go and get him.
Duop Reath addition makes Okongwu more expendable for Hawks
That seems more achievable than ever after the Hawks made a trade on Sunday morning to acquire Duop Reath (along with two 2nd-round picks) from the Trail Blazers in exchange for Vit Krejci.
Reath is almost 30, and he's out for the season with an injury, but he’s only been in the league for three years and showed a lot of promise as a rookie in Portland, putting up almost 10 points per game in 68 games in the 2023-24 season. He has fallen out of the rotation with Portland adding centers like Robert Williams, Donovan Clingan, and Yang Hansen, but there’s still a chance he can make an impact for an NBA team.
Celtics should make a push to trade for Okongwu
The Hawks are taking that flier, and by adding a center in exchange for a wing player, they could be more willing to part with other big men, like Okongwu. Maybe this is completely unrelated, and maybe the Hawks still believe that OO is their center of the future, but it certainly seems like they’re open for business, and you best believe Brad Stevens is making some phone calls.
Boston would have to part with Anfernee Simons, something they’ve become much less willing to do, but for a deal like this, it should be a no-brainer. They’d have to sweeten the pot with some draft capital and take on some more money like Luke Kennard, perhaps.
But they’d have their starting center of the future, and could then make other moves to still get under the luxury tax. This is still all speculation, but it feels less crazy and more of a realistic possibility by the day.