The Atlanta Hawks start preseason action on Oct. 5 at State Farm Arena against the Memphis Grizzlies. The starters do not typically play 30-plus minutes in most preseason contests, giving bench players opportunities to prove themselves to the coaching staff. This is exactly what Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor face over the next two weeks.
Newell enters his second NBA campaign after spending most of the second half of last season with the College Park Skyhawks. Ejiofor begins his professional career after four collegiate campaigns. Both players bring different skill sets to Atlanta's second unit, and the coaching staff will see over the five preseason contests who earns more playing time when the regular season tips off.
Newell's fast processing adds to the Hawks' connected offense
Newell averaged 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game with Atlanta last season. These numbers do not jump off the screen, but context is important when discussing Newell's rookie campaign.
He displayed great 0.5-second offensive skills, especially when factoring in how little he had the ball in his hands. It often takes rookies time to adjust to the speed of the NBA game, but Newell's ability to make quick decisions, such as driving to the paint or letting the ball fly off the catch, stood out.
Newell also shot 38.7% from beyond the arc. While he only took 1.7 attempts per game, questions surrounded his 3-point efficiency coming out of college. He answered those and gave the organization hope that he could develop into a reliable stretch four.
The 21-year-old showed off his offensive talent in College Park, averaging 22.8 points and 8.5 rebounds.
However, Newell struggled defensively against bigger forwards and centers. He must get stronger and play with more physicality on both ends this season. If Newell shows improvement in his 3-point volume and efficiency, along with his defense, this preseason, he could receive the lion's share of backup power forward minutes.
Nobody doubts Ejiofor's physicality on both ends of the floor
The 22-year-old Ejiofor comes out of St. John's University with a lot of defensive potential. Hawks fans already witnessed his blend of strength, size, quickness, and versatility during the Summer League. Now, he gets the chance to prove himself in the preseason.
Ejiofor averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.2 steals in his senior collegiate campaign. He has great lateral quickness, especially as a 6-foot-9 forward, that allows him to play high on screens and switch one through five. This matches exactly what Quin Snyder wants his bigs to do.
Ejiofor can put the ball on the floor and make quick reads with the ball in his hands. He can also bulldoze his way to the rim with his strong frame. Atlanta's offense relies on fast, smart decisions and taking advantage of fast break opportunities. The rookie forward fits this philosophy seamlessly.
Ejiofor offers much more defensive upside than Newell, but his outside shooting remains a question mark. Ejiofor shot just 30.5% from deep on 1.6 attempts in his senior year. While his offensive processing skills project well, the NBA is a different game than college. If his outside shot improves, Ejiofor's defensive versatility could outweigh Newell's offensive ceiling.
Hawks fans should definitely keep an eye on how Quin Snyder utilizes both players throughout this preseason.
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