In a notable move preceding the February trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers conducted inquiries into a potential acquisition of Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin on the Straight Fire podcast with Jason McIntyre, the Lakers 'made a call' regarding Okongwu before finalizing their initial deal with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams, which ultimately did not come to fruition prior to its official announcement.

Okongwu, a 6'10" center with notable defensive skills and a capability for lob plays, would have complemented star player Luka Dončić well, given Dončić's history of thriving with similar skill sets on the court. While Okongwu may not embody the superstar status that some Lakers fans might prefer, he could have effectively addressed the significant vacancy at the center position that was exposed by the Minnesota Timberwolves during the playoffs. At just under 25 years old, Okongwu's age aligns with the Lakers' current timeline, particularly with Dončić positioned as a cornerstone of their future.

Additionally, Okongwu's contract, which has three years and approximately $47.98 million remaining, makes him a financially attractive option. Since being named the starting center over Clint Capela in January, the Hawks displayed little inclination to part ways with Okongwu. The Hawks themselves find themselves in a precarious situation, having previously missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons and failing to surpass 43 wins since the 2015-16 season. Should the Hawks consider a short-term rebuild, Okongwu would undeniably stand out as one of their most valuable assets, especially given his impressive statistics from the recent season, including career highs of 13.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game across 74 games played. As the offseason approaches, the Lakers are likely to seek a starting center, having predominantly relied on Jaxson Hayes during the latter part of the season, who, unfortunately, struggled significantly with just 30 minutes of play across four playoff games against Minnesota.