The Los Angeles Lakers have experienced their fair share of links to soon-to-be Atlanta Hawks free agent Clint Capela. However, that is not the center on their team with whom Rob Pelinka is reportedly most enamored with.
ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin told listeners of Straight Fire that there was noise about the Lakers eyeing Onyeka Okongwu before the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
"Before the Mark Williams trade, ... I actually assume he was one of the names on the list that Rob Pelinka presented to Luka [Doncic] because I do know the Lakers made a call to the Hawks around the trade deadline about Okongwu," McMenamin said to Jason McIntyre.
The move would be quite logical for the Lakers. One that should have significant reason to be revisited in the coming offseason.
Okongwu would bring plenty of likeable skills to the Lakers
Pelinka and Doncic clearly have a type and it's an obvious one. Okongwu fits a similar mold to that of other rumored targets like Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler, and others, on the offensive end.
Okongwu is similarly athletic and a strong lob threat at the rim. A pick-and-roll partnership between him and Doncic would be deadly. As would be the general threat of Okongwu hanging around the dunker spot.
The Hawks center has even worked on adding a 3-point shot to his arsenal over the past two seasons. In 2024-25, Okongwu connected on 32.4 percent of his 2.0 attempts per game from distance. The young center is certainly not a world-beater, but is not completely incapable.
The athleticism Okongwu possesses helps make up for the big man being a touch undersized at only 6-feet-8-inches. That natural ability aids him well defensively where the five-year pro averages 1.7 blocks per game and 1.1 steals per game for his career, when adjusting for per-36 minutes.
The big bonus of any deal for Okongwu is the fact that the athletic big man is on a very team-friendly contract. The former top 10 pick is set to earn $15 million in 2025-26, and is locked up for two more season after that.
When looking at the two options, between Capela and Okongwu, from Atlanta, it is easy to like the latter more. The only problem is, the Hawks are in agreement.
There is a reason Capela will be hitting free agency this offseason. In all fairness to the veteran big man, if he were to be available at a reasonable price, the Lakers should certainly inquire.
Okongwu's long-term fit with Los Angeles offers much more upside. The challenge, in this scenario, would certainly be convincing the Hawks to part ways with the 24-year-old.
