Onyeka Okongwu has bled for this franchise. Literally. Last night, he was (unintentionally) elbowed in the face by Jaylen Brown so hard that he lost a few teeth. He stayed in the game, shot his free throws, then promptly headed to the locker room, where he still had the spirit to [post a selfie](https://x.com/JameelahJNBA/status/2016720062283927713?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet) when the game ended.
That's the kind of guy you want to keep around for a long time — and it appears the Hawks agree. [According to Michael Scotto](https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/01/28/nba-intel-giannis-antetokounmpo-domantas-sabonis-lakers-celtics-knicks-hawks-bulls-cavaliers-timberw/88401592007/) of HoopsHype, "_Despite interest from the Indiana Pacers and other teams who’ve checked in on Onyeka Okongwu, the Hawks have been resistant to moving their 25-year-old center, league sources told HoopsHype."_
Good! It's hard to imagine that any trade involving Okongwu would make the Hawks better now _or_ later, so shutting down any speculation is the right move. Plus, it's not like the Hawks _need_ to ship him off anytime soon, as Okongwu still has two years left on his contract after 2025-26. In fact, the team should work to extend him even beyond 2027-28 before he becomes a max contract player. Yesterday's price is not today's price, which won't be tomorrow's price, as they say. Do they say that?
Hawks have no interest in entertaining Onyeka Okongwu offer
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Okongwu's development within the Hawks' organization has been a beautiful sight for fans in the A. He entered the league as a clearly talented (but raw) prospect, coming off the bench behind Clint Capela. I personally think Okongwu was a better player than Capela by, like, November of his sophomore season, but I digress.
Now in year six, O has become one of the most exciting, versatile young centers in the NBA. He's averaging a career-high 16.3 points per game, shooting over five 3-pointers per game (and making them at a career-high clip) and averaging more stocks than he ever has. His overall efficiency is down a bit, but that's pretty common when players are entrusted with a bigger role. Okongwu has shown that he's ready to be a cornerstone of this franchise; why rush to get rid of that?
There's still untapped potential with Okongwu, too. I think he can be a near-20 & 10 guy if all goes right. Centers are fickle, and it's not uncommon for them to have a "second breakout" later in their careers. Look at Ivica Zubac for a recent example of that.
Moves might be coming for the Hawks in the next week. Knowing that they won't include the Hawks' young center should make fans happy.