New Orleans Pelicans General Manager Joe Dumars made headlines in the summer of 2025 when he traded their 2026 draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks for their lottery pick, which was used to select college standout Derik Queen.
Queen has shown flashes of greatness during his rookie season, but Atlanta had their sights set on Newell, who they selected with the 23rd pick of the first round. He has been a perfect fit in the Hawks' system, and we’re still discovering new wrinkles to his game.
Coming out of UGA, he was ridiculed for his poor shooting from three (28%), but he’s shown rapid growth in his first season. Out of 16 threes, he’s made eight of them in nine games. In those nine games, they are 7-2 with Newell in the rotation.
Even though the 19-year-old is learning on the job, he is shooting the ball with the utmost confidence, which is very rare for a rookie. Asa’s aggression has been the most impressive part of his game thus far, and his fearlessness guarantees him minutes this season.
His ability to spread the floor, score on the inside, and guard multiple positions at 6’10 is an archetype the front office has surrounded Trae Young with. Teammates Onyeka Okongwu, Mouhamed Gueye, and Kristaps Porzingis all have complementary play styles with Newell. It’s perfect for Hawks General Manager, Onsi Saleh, and the front office because of Porzingis’ contract situation.
Newell has given the Hawks a contingency plan
Gueye, Onyeka, and Newell will demand less money than Kristaps while also being in their early 20s. Factoring in Hawks star Jalen Johnson, this gives Atlanta a competitive frontcourt of shooting and rebounding stability for the future. Most importantly, every member of the young core will be more durable than Porzingis and, therefore, play more games.
When Onsi Saleh traded for Porzingis, the front office was aware of the health risk that comes with signing the 30-year-old NBA champion. He’s still managed to make a great impact in his nine games, averaging 17.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Porzinigis has fulfilled his role as a veteran for this core, but given his health issues, he might not play into the distant future. Newell will learn from Kristaps in the meantime and step into his role once he leaves the Hawks. Asa has proven that he works well with their frontcourt, and if needed, the Hawks will be able to draft another big man next summer with their pick from the Newell trade.
Multiple power forwards are in the top-5 of multiple 2026 NBA mock drafts, including college stars Cameron Boozer and Koa Peat. Both can stretch the floor and defend well, giving the Hawks a chance of an elite and well-rounded frontcourt heading into the 2030s.