Hawks' Back-to-Back Losses to Rockets Expose Major Roster Need

After winning their first two contests, the Atlanta Hawks sit at .500 at 2-2. Both losses came at the expense of the Houston Rockets, and both demonstrated that the Hawks need to add size.

Please note: There is nothing to panic about here. The Rockets are a championship contender. There's no shame in losing to them. Moreover, they're a bad matchup for the Hawks:

Although that's kind of the point here.

The Rockets' Alperen Sengun got whatever he wanted in the two teams' most recent matchup. He had 29 points on 11/15 shooting from the field, along with 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

No one could guard him. Amen Thompson didn't have a hard time either. He scored 15 points on 6/8 shooting, mostly on layups. The Rockets, in general, had an impressive 63 points in the paint. When it's that easy to score inside, it opens up other aspects of offense for a team.

This won't be an issue against everybody. The Hawks don't typically have trouble containing dribble penetration. Their ability to switch across positions ensures that.

Most teams don't have a big man like Sengun who can score in isolation. But here's the issue:

Some teams do, and the Hawks are woefully unequipped to deal with them.

What do the Hawks do when Joel Embiid is hot? Will they be able to contain Evan Mobley?

Bigs who can score are rare, but they exist. At 6'8", Onyeka Okongwu is not equipped to handle them.

Jock Landale is part of the solution. He's got the size, but there's a reason he's closer to a mid-tier backup than a viable starter. Landale's limited lateral mobility makes him easily exploited on the defensive end of the floor.

Realistically, the Hawks need to make a trade this year. They'll need a legitimate 5 who can handle major minutes on nights when Okongwu is physically outmatched. It's a harsh reality, but it's one the Hawks need to face.

That doesn't (necessarily) mean moving Okongwu. He's an excellent player who can defend multiple positions. It might mean shifting him to a bench role where he approaches 30 minutes per contest while splitting his time between the 4 and 5 positions.

That said, he shouldn't be untouchable if the right big man is available. The Hawks need floor spacing at that position, so they shouldn't trade Okongwu unless they're getting a stretch big in return, but if that type of deal is on the table, it's something Atlanta will have to consider:

As of now, they're just not big enough.