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Okongwu underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder and is expected to miss roughly six months, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
The sixth overall pick in the 2020 Draft, Okongwu spent most of his rookie year as a low-minute backup center, but his role increased down the stretch, as he logged double-digit minutes in six of the Hawks' final eight postseason games. Per Wojnarowski, Okongwu initially sustained the labrum injury back in May but played through it for the duration of Atlanta's run to the Eastern Conference Finals. If the six-month timetable holds up, Okongwu will likely miss the first two months of the regular season, which is slated to return to its normal, mid-October start. While Okongwu's absence may not carry significant fantasy ramifications, it's a disappointing setback for the 20-year-old, who could be positioned for a larger role next season -- particularly if the Hawks move on from free-agent-to-be John Collins.
