Onyeka Okongwu is a top trade target to give the Celtics depth at center post-Nikola Vucevic

Onyeka Okongwu

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Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale made a list of the top three trade targets every team should chase, and Atlanta Hawks star Onyeka Okongwu was at the top of the list for Boston.

“Assuming Nikola Vučević is merely a stopgap, the Boston Celtics will need another center. Whether they want that big man to back up, play ahead of or start alongside Neemias Queta is a matter the playoffs will settle. Onyeka Okongwu both splits the difference and is the most ambitious option. His three-ball is reliable enough (including from above the break!) for him to play in tandem with Queta,” Favale wrote.

Okongwu is a star in the making

Onyeka Okongwu

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This season, Okongwu averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 31 minutes per game. Aside from rebounds and barely blocks, Okongwu is better than Queta in every way.

Plus, he does something the Celtics would love to have: terrorizing the New York Knicks. The Hawks are facing the Knicks in the first round right now, and Okongwu is averaging 17 points, eight rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 33.5 minutes per game.

Okongwu brings versatility

Onyeka Okongwu

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At 6'10”, Okongwu is a littler shorter than Queta, but he’s able to hit the three-ball quite consistently, finishing the season shooting near 38%. So, if the Celtics wanted to, they could place Okongwu next to Queta at power forward, and shift all the other starters up a spot.

This would push Sam Hauser to the bench, giving the Celtics even better depth than what they currently have. If Boston fails to win it all this year, this is something they need to consider if they want to hang Banner 19.

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