If the Philadelphia 76ers are committed to making a breakthrough this season, they could have a great trade target on their hands. Atlanta Hawks big man Onyeka Okongwu is rumored to be available via trade, and the 76ers should be interested in him. The affordable center would be a perfect fit in Philadelphia’s starting lineup.
The Fit in Philadelphia
Okongwu would give the 76ers much-needed versatility in the frontcourt. He’s not your average center and has the perfect skillset to be the starting power forward next to Joel Embiid. He became a very capable shooter with good defensive instincts. It’s an unusual combination, but highly desired in today’s NBA.
Okongwu will play alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, Paul George and Embiid in Philadelphia’s starting unit. He will effectively fill the role that Dominic Barlow has held for the past few months. Okongwu contributes 36% from deep with great defense and rebounding.
Okongwu was blocked by many centers throughout his early seasons in Atlanta, but he finally got his big chance this season. He is averaging the most minutes per game in his career. 16.2 PPG and 7.8 RPG.
What is a package?
Jared McCain will likely be the headline trade as a young guard in need of a change of pace. Adding salaries like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond makes it a perfect match. McCain would be a valuable asset to Atlanta in this trade, so the draft pick compensation would likely be minor.
The Hawks are taking this as they look ahead to the Trae Young trade. Placing McCain next to Jalen Johnson would be the perfect move for a rebuilding team looking to build around the 6’8 star PF.
It will be difficult for the 76ers to part ways with McCain, but adding a young, controllable, cost-friendly big player will make things easier. The fact that there are so many young guards is one of the reasons why parting ways with him won’t hurt so much. Oubre and Drummond were solid rotation pieces for the 76ers, but Drummond is no longer needed and Oubre has been an inconsistent player in Philadelphia.
End of my 76ers rant
Okongwu would be a great fit in Philadelphia. The ability to play with or without Embiid would give them a huge asset that they have been missing for years. His affordable contract and easy-to-offer package make him a no-brainer for the 76ers. Trading McCain would be a pain, but getting a young frontcourt player to pair with Embiid would make it worth it.
Philadelphia exceeded expectations early in the 2025-26 season. Edgecombe solidified his status as a rising star. Maxey is playing like an MVP candidate. Embiid has recently returned to his former MVP status while staying healthy. If everything goes as it is, the addition of Okongwu could really catapult the 76ers into contender status.