The Atlanta Hawks will have plenty of options to choose from with the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. With veteran centers Clint Capela and Larry Nance Jr. entering free agency this offseason, Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh should consider drafting a big man for the future.
Atlanta will likely have the chance to draft a homegrown talent who could serve as a long-term replacement for Capela. Asa Newell, who just spent his freshman year starting at center for the University of Georgia, was born in Atlanta and raised in Athens. He will turn 20 in October.
Newell averaged a team-high 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds in his one-and-done run with the Bulldogs. He led UGA to a 20-13 overall record in a loaded SEC, catapulting himself into the first round of virtually every major NBA mock draft.
In his recent May 19 mock draft, Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor projected the Hawks to draft Newell with their No. 13 pick. He analyzed Newell’s potential fit and how the UGA star could raise Atlanta’s overall ceiling.
“Clint Capela is a free agent this summer, so minutes at center could be open for the Hawks next season. Newell would fill in immediately because he has springs in his legs, regularly slamming lobs and swatting shots,” O’Connor wrote. “Trae Young would find him for a ton of easy shots, and with Onyeka Okongwu extending his range more and more each season, there’d be less pressure on Newell to effectively shoot 3s as he begins his career. On defense, Newell projects as a highly versatile defender who’d fit in with Atlanta’s very switchable group.”
Although Newell wasn’t the strongest 3-point shooter in college, he wasn’t afraid to shoot them. He sank 29.2% of his deep attempts on 2.7 tries per game, knocking down multiple threes in eight of his 33 contests.
Playing next to Trae Young, Newell wouldn't have to shoot from beyond the arc often. He would enjoy more opportunities for easy baskets than most rookies, potentially thriving in the two-man game with Ice Trae as a rim-running lob threat with major upside.
Asa Newell’s ties to Atlanta would make him a Hawks fan favorite
Newell’s Atlanta roots would certainly make him a popular draft pick among Hawks fans. The Georgia product has the athleticism and movement to become a highly versatile two-way threat in the NBA.
As a freshman, Newell showcased the ability to guard smaller players in space with his quickness and agility while still protecting the rim at a high level. He averaged one steal and one block for the Bulldogs. These early flashes of switchability could bode very well for Newell’s draft stock as June 25 approaches.
ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony recently credited Newell’s “mobility, aggressiveness, and intensity” as driving factors for his NBA potential. The young big man is more than just a traditional five, armed with the ability to guard multiple positions on defense and the ability to play power forward and center on offense.
Given Newell’s draft combine measurements, league experts expect him to play primarily at power forward in the NBA. Between Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and potentially Newell, the Hawks would have incredible lineup flexibility with multiple viable options at power forward and center. If Johnson and Okongwu continue their upward trajectories and Atlanta strikes gold with the right big man at No. 13, the Hawks could have the most formidable frontcourt in the league.
Between his strong Atlanta ties and his sky-high potential, Newell seems like the perfect lottery target for the Hawks.