The Atlanta Hawks made it clear on draft night that they viewed Asa Newell as the right pick for their future. The path to get him, though, was a little unconventional. Sitting at pick No. 13, the Hawks strongly considered taking Newell there. Instead, they pivoted into a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans to acquire their 2026 first-round pick. That move let them slide down the board and still land their guy at No. 23, turning one bold belief into a value play.
Is Asa Newell The Right Pick For Atlanta At 23?
That sequence shows how highly the Hawks valued Newell. Teams don’t move back in the draft unless they feel confident their target will still be there. Atlanta doubled down on its evaluation. They added future assets and still secured a player they believe fits both their present and long-term timeline.
From the moment the pick came in, the Hawks sent a message. They weren’t just drafting for depth. They were drafting for identity. The combination of size, shooting, and motor they get in Newell is exactly what modern front offices chase, and it’s exactly the kind of Newell draft fit that helps reshape a frontcourt.
From a roster-building standpoint, the Newell pick makes sense on multiple levels. The Hawks needed a forward who could space the floor, keep the ball moving, and punish defenses that load up on their guards. Newell does that with his ability to stretch the floor by shooting the three and his comfort in pick-and-pop actions. When he steps beyond the arc, he pulls opposing bigs away from the paint and opens driving lanes for Atlanta’s ball-handlers, which is what you want from a Newell draft fit in today’s NBA.
His impact doesn’t stop with jump shots. Newell is also a highly skilled offensive rebounder. He uses timing, length, and energy to create second-chance opportunities. Those extra possessions swing tight games over an 82-game season. When a big can drag defenders to the perimeter and still crash the glass with force, defenses have to make hard choices. Coaches and analytics staff love that kind of pressure.
Asa Newell 17 Points, 5 Rebs, 4 Steals full highlight vs Lakers I 25-26 NBA Season pic.twitter.com/GKMt4yqk4K
— Hoops Showtime (@HoopsShowtime12) November 9, 2025
Stretch Shooting and Hustle: Newell’s Path to Minutes
The draft-night storyline makes the selection even more interesting. Atlanta nearly took him at No. 13. That choice would have raised eyebrows among fans and observers who hadn’t fully bought in on his upside. Instead, the Hawks traded with the Pelicans and still secured Newell at No. 23. What might have looked like a reach became a savvy play. The message was clear: they believed Newell was the right pick no matter where they drafted him, and the board broke in their favor.
On the court, Newell fits cleanly into several lineup combinations, whether next to a traditional center, in switchable groups, or in five-out sets that pull rim protectors away from the basket. He’s willing to shoot when open, keep the ball moving, and then cut or crash the offensive glass. Defensively, his mobility and length give the Hawks another active, versatile forward who covers ground and battles on the boards. That two-way impact shows that selecting Newell was about more than raw upside. It was about adding a player who fits where the NBA is going.
In the end, the Hawks walked away from draft night with extra value and a forward who aligns with their style, timeline, and needs. They trusted their evaluation, maneuvered the board, and still landed their target. If Newell develops as expected—knocking down threes, flying in for offensive rebounds, and defending with energy—people will look back and say Atlanta didn’t just benefit from luck. They identified Newell’s draft fit early, made a plan, and executed it.
They identified their guy early, made a plan, and executed it. The Hawks got it right.
Featured Image: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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