BREAKING: Atlanta Hawks Provide Big Injury Updates for Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu
The Atlanta Hawks provided two big updates today on on two of their best players, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.
"Forward Jalen Johnson left Tuesday’s game vs. Miami with a right ankle sprain. An MRI taken yesterday at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex revealed a Grade 2 lateral ankle sprain. He will be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.
Center Onyeka Okongwu (left big toe sprain) underwent a non-surgical procedure on Tuesday at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute to address ongoing inflammation in his left big toe. He will be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks."
This is huge news for Atlanta and it might mean that we have seen the last of Johnson and Okongwu for the rest of the season. Given the timelines for both players, the Hawks would not only need to win both play-in games to get into the playoffs but would likely have to win a series for both to possibly come back. Given that their opponent would be the Celtics, that is a very unlikely scenario.
This is unfortunate for both players because they were both playing well, especially Johnson. They have both been battling injuries this season and the Hawks are going to have some things to figure out ahead of next week's play-in matchups.
With Johnson out and Saddiq Bey also done for the season, the Hawks have some things to figure out at forward because while Vit Krejci has been the starter for the Hawks and playing well, he is on a two-way contract and under the current CBA, he cannot play in the playoffs. The Hawks could waive Wesley Matthews or Trent Forrest in order to make room for Krejci and that is what they might have to do. I would not be surprised if they make a decision on that soon. The Hawks don't have many forwards and with Young coming back along with Dejounte Murray and Kobe Bufkin, there is not a lot of minutes for Forrest. Also because of the injury to Johnson, it would not make a lot of sense to cut Wesley Matthews, as he would be a key depth piece for the play-in given the situation.
Keep an eye out for more updates.
