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[Saba Sports News] After previously having Lonzo Ball on their roster, the Los Angeles Lakers may now be targeting one of Ball’s former high school teammates.
The Lakers have been linked in trade rumors to Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu. During a recent appearance on the Straight Fire podcast, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin revealed that the Lakers inquired about Okongwu at the trade deadline in February and suggested he remains a possible offseason target.
Okongwu, 24, may be slightly undersized for a center at 6-foot-10, but he boasts a 7-foot-2 wingspan and elite athleticism that give him significant defensive upside.
After overtaking Clint Capela in the starting lineup, Okongwu posted averages of 15.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 31.2 minutes per game this past season.
He also has deep roots in Southern California. As a high schooler, Okongwu played at Chino Hills alongside Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball, helping the team go 35-0 and win a state championship during their historic 2015-16 season.
After the Ball brothers moved on, Okongwu led Chino Hills to two more state titles and was named Mr. California Basketball in both 2018 and 2019. He then starred at USC before being drafted sixth overall by the Hawks in 2020.
The Lakers are in need of a frontcourt upgrade after a disappointing postseason stretch where Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len struggled to contribute. Okongwu, who is under contract for three more years at $48 million, could be a strong fit — and Los Angeles appears to be giving serious consideration to bringing him in, though they’re not expected to give up any major assets in the process.