Kristaps Porziņģis and Onyeka Okongwu form one of, if not the best, center rotations in the NBA. Trae Young will have two great partners to run a deadly pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll. Porziņģis can shoot from 35 feet away, while Okongwu’s versatility and quickness give him weapons on the move on both ends.
However, Young has not always had great options at the five. Early in his career, Atlanta rebuilt its core before trading for Clint Capela in 2020. He spent five seasons with the Hawks, playing a vital role in their 2020-21 campaign, before signing with the Houston Rockets this summer. Here is a closer look at the Hawks’ timeline of centers in Young’s seven-year career.
Timeline of Hawks Starting Centers in the Trae Young Era
Starting Center By Committee for Two Seasons
Over Young’s first two campaigns, Atlanta did not lock in a starting big man. Dewayne Dedmon started 52 games in the 2018-19 campaign, while Alex Len covered the rest. Dedmon averaged 10.8 points, 7.5 boards, and expanded his shooting touch to beyond the long line. He shot a career-high 38.2% on 3.4 attempts from deep per game. Len also experienced a small shooting boost, hitting 36.3% of his 2.6 triples attempted per game.
Neither big man ever reached these shooting numbers again in their careers, but this was likely due to the franchise’s intense focus on player and skill development. Across the 2018-19 campaign, the Hawks ranked fourth and third in threes made and attempted, respectively. Despite the 29-win season, it was clear early on that Young had a knack for finding his teammates and generating open looks.
The 2019-20 campaign was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Len and Damian Jones drew most of the center starts in Atlanta, but it was not pretty. While Jones ran the floor well and gave Young a much-needed lob threat in pick-and-rolls, neither center could protect the rim or be a reliable source of offense in the halfcourt. After Young made his first All-Star team in his sophomore season, the Hawks knew they needed to make an impact move for a stable, consistent big man.
Clint Capela Immediately Lifts the Hawks
Hawks General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk traded for Capela at the 2020 trade deadline, but the Swiss center did not play until the 2020-21 season began. He filled the desperate need for a long-term center to pair with the Hawks’ duo of John Collins and Young before Okongwu (drafted in 2020) was ready. Schlenk knew Capela could make a big impact on the Hawks’ frontcourt.
“We are excited to add Clint to our young core. He fills a need for us inside with his ability to protect the rim and rebound at an elite level, and offensively, he gives our group another strong finisher and roll man.”
Capela was certainly everything Atlanta needed him to be and more. He finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in his first full season, averaging 15.2 points and a league-leading 14.3 rebounds per game. The then 26-year-old center also recorded a career-high two blocks and led the NBA with 4.7 offensive boards per contest. The Hawks ran the Capela-Young pick-and-roll surrounded by floor spacers to the tee. This offense, combined with Capela’s elite ability to anchor a shaky perimeter defense, allowed Atlanta to shock the NBA world, defeating the first-seeded Philadelphia 76ers en route to an Eastern Conference Finals berth.
Young + Capela PNR was the most common pick & roll combo in the NBA for good reason
ATL would typically fill both corners with open up the middle of the floor
Clint’s roll gravity & screening + Trae’s floater/pull-up shooting/innumerable passing angles = T5 action in the NBA pic.twitter.com/INI3O8wnWA
— #InSnyderWeTrust (@dlee4three) July 27, 2025
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However, after Capela’s magnificent 2020-21 campaign, he did not maintain the same level of performance. His scoring average decreased to 11.1 the season after and dropped to 8.9 in 2024-25. While he still rebounded well, Capela’s rim protection and finishing declined. Despite taking mostly hook shots, dunks, and layups, he shot 55.9% from the field last season. When Okongwu began starting games in January, Capela’s time in Atlanta was coming to a close.
The Last Word
Come next season, the Hawks will have 48 minutes of strong frontcourt play from Porziņģis and Okongwu. Young has never played with a 7-footer who can shoot the three-ball, protect the rim, and make plays from the post like Porziņģis. Atlanta will lean on Okongwu heavily for his improved perimeter shot, defensive and offensive versatility, and ability to switch pick-and-rolls.
© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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