The Atlanta Hawks assigned Asa Newell to the G League after a string of unsuccessful outings as a center. This move came alongside the Hawks promoting two two-way players from the College Park Skyhawks to the big-league team: RayJ Dennis and Caleb Houstan. While the Hawks have demoted Newell recently, this was simply to get extra playing time – after one day with the Skyhawks, the Hawks promoted him back to the NBA roster before their next game.
The Atlanta Hawks announced today that forward Asa Newell has been assigned to the College Park Skyhawks from the Hawks, while two-way guard RayJ Dennis and two-way guard/forward Caleb Houstan have been transferred to the Skyhawks from the Hawks.
— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) January 20, 2026
This move was a shock to most fans. Newell has flourished this season and has real potential as an elite supporting option on the wing. He was primarily deployed as a power forward until the end of November, when he was quietly one of the most impactful rookies in the league.
Since December 1st, however, Kristaps Porzingis has played just five games. Even worse, Atlanta’s third-string center, N’Faly Dante, tore his ACL during the same month. Atlanta found itself with no backup center to Onyeka Okongwu, meaning Newell and fellow PF Mouhamed Gueye were forced into this role.
While neither player has thrived out of position, Newell has truly struggled. He’s averaged just 1.3 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 9.0 minutes a night over the month of January, despite getting some serious burn at the five. Newell, just 20 years old and 30 pounds lighter than the average center, isn’t quite big enough to hold up against NBA bigs yet.
The Hawks have two paths forward
The Hawks identified their weak interior presence as an area they must improve upon to foster an environment conducive to player development. They could have played Newell at the backup four, however, where he’s played well alongside Gueye.
The decision to promote Houstan indicates this could be a long-term plan for the Hawks. Houstan and Newell play similar roles as sharpshooting wings. The former has more experience as a fourth-year NBA player, while the latter has an edge as a pure athlete. The tradeoff is about even, although I would personally argue that Newell is better (when playing PF).
This raises the million-dollar question – does Atlanta want Newell to play PF or C long-term?
If they see him as a four, Newell’s demotion will allow him a greater chance to flourish. He’s been stuck as the last option on offense and the weakest link on defense, which is not an ideal environment for a rookie. Perhaps this move was made to allow the UGA product time to lead a G League team, where he’ll have the opportunity to develop his on-ball and defensive skills.
If Atlanta wants Newell to play the five, a demotion is still a logical idea. While he isn’t quite strong enough to compete with NBA centers, his length and athleticism are enough to earn a spot in the G League. This way, Newell can develop good habits as a center before putting on weight over the summer.
While the move is a disappointment to fans pining to see Newell play the backup four, Onsi Saleh and Quin Snyder are playing the long game. Perhaps Newell’s G League tenure could help him reach a ceiling nobody recognized, similar to Jalen Johnson’s development early in his career.