NBA Draft 2020: Top 3 options for Atlanta Hawks with No. 6 pick

Onyeka Okongwu, 6-9 Forward/Center – USC

With all the youth on their roster, the Atlanta Hawks need to make sure they’re taking the best possible building blocks for their future. Onyeka Okongwu provides exceptional versatility on the offensive and defensive end.

As a freshman at USC, Okongwu averaged 16.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Other highlights of his game include his defensive anticipation, ball-handling, and pick-and-roll IQ.

The freshman big man’s versatility is certainly appealing, especially given the recent rise of similarly styled professional players like Miami’s Bam Adebayo. The Atlanta Hawks have had a rotating door in their big man rotation over the past few seasons. Some of that is to be expected as traditional centers fall by the wayside, but Okongwu presents the opportunity to add a solid building block.

With Trae Young running the point, an excellent pick-and-roll player like Okongwu would fit nicely in Atlanta. His interior defensive presence will be extremely helpful to a Hawks team that ranked 27th in defensive efficiency last season. His athleticism will provide him plenty of opportunities as a lob threat and post finisher.

Should Okongwu fall to the 6th pick, Atlanta should give him a good look as their big man of the future.