The Hawks are set offensively. Trae Young is a playmaking dynamo, and John Collins can fill it up for 20+ any given night. The next step in Atlanta’s progression is defense. Isaac Okoro strengthens an increasingly solid two-way backbone for a Hawks team on the verge of playoff contention.
As one of the youngest players in college basketball last season, Okoro was also one of its best defenders. He excels on the ball, he can potentially defend up to four positions, and his instincts are advanced well beyond his years. He makes crisp rotations, he creates turnovers, and he’s arguably Atlanta’s best isolation defender on day one. Add Clint Capela in the middle, and flank him with Cam Reddish on the wing, and the Hawks’ defense is no longer a total charade.
On offense, Okoro will need to improve his jump shot in order to contribute on a regular basis. Even so, he’s a smart, physical slasher who moves the ball, sets screens, and understands his role. The Hawks don’t need someone to dominate the basketball, which makes this as good a fit as any for Okoro.