From the No. 23 show to the Summer League surprise! Newell s offense and defense are both eye-catching. Did the Hawks really bet right this time?

Trading background: The wonderful journey of the No. 13 draw

On the NBA stage, every transaction on the eve of the draft is like a carefully planned chess game, full of unknowns and surprises. This year, the deal between the Hawks and the Pelicans has undoubtedly become the focus of everyone's attention. On the eve of the

draft, the Hawks and the Pelicans finalized a league-shaking deal: The Hawks traded the team's No. 13 draw to the Pelicans for the No. 23 draw and a 26-year unprotected first-round pick (the best pick between the Pelicans and the Bucks). The conclusion of this deal shocked the entire league. For the Eagle, this is undoubtedly a wise operation. 2026 is recognized as a draft year, and many supernovas will run for the election. This unprotected first-round pick is like a lottery full of infinite possibilities. Even if the Pelicans or the Bucks have poor record, the Hawks have the opportunity to get a high pick, planting a seed of hope for the team's future reconstruction and development.

And in this transaction, the No. 23 sign is also of great significance. It became the key bargaining chip for the Hawks to tap potential new stars. It was through this signing that the Hawks selected Asa Newell, a freshman from the University of Georgia, to start a new basketball story.

College Arena: "The Prince of Antelope" shines

Before stepping into the NBA stage, Newell had already made his mark in college basketball and became a highly anticipated new star. He played for the University of Georgia, where he used his strength and hard work to write a legend of his own.

Newell showed amazing strength in his freshman season at the University of Georgia. As the team's starter, he played 33 games, averaged 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 1.0 steals, and shot 54.3% from the field and 74.8% from free throws. Such data is undoubtedly very outstanding for a freshman. With his outstanding performance, he was successfully selected into the SEC League's best rookie lineup, which is a high recognition of his personal abilities and proves his top position in college basketball.

And his most brilliant moment was to lead the University of Georgia to break into March Madness again after ten years. March Crazy, as synonymous with the NCAA Championship, is the most popular event in American college basketball. Being able to break into March Madness is a huge achievement for any college team. Newell played a crucial role in this process. He used his scoring ability, rebounding ability and defensive ability to lead the team through the hurdles and successfully entered this basketball feast. Although the team lost to Gonzaga in the first round, Newell's performance was remarkable. The tenacity and fighting spirit he showed in the game made people see his unlimited potential in the future.

In the university arena, Newell is like an antelope running on the grassland, full of vitality and explosiveness. His outstanding performance not only made him a star player at the University of Georgia, but also attracted the attention of many NBA scouts. His name began to spread in the basketball world, laying a solid foundation for his future NBA journey.

Summer League debut: Amazing data and highlights

Summer League, for every rookie, is their first touchstone for entering the NBA stage, and it is also an excellent opportunity for them to show their strength to the world. Asa Newell has undoubtedly become a dazzling new star on this stage, and his outstanding performance has made everyone's eyes shine.

In the three games of the Summer League, Newell seemed to be a released beast, showing amazing strength. He averaged 13.3 points and 9 rebounds per game, shot up to 51.9%, shot 50% from three-pointers, and shot 50% from free throws. Such data is undoubtedly very outstanding for a rookie, and it also allows people to see his huge potential.

In the second summer league of his personal career, Newell ushered in his highlight moment. He played for 26 minutes, made 7 of 9 shots in the game, efficiently scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block, with a plus-negative value of up to +18. Such data not only shows his efficiency on the offensive end, but also reflects his positive role on the defensive end. He is like a stabilizing needle on the court, and both offense and defense can bring stable support to the team.

Newell's performance against the Suns was amazing. He was like a sharp sword outside the three-point line, making 4 of 5 three-pointers, making the Suns' defensive players unbearable. Every three-pointer shot is like a bomb, exploding in the Suns' defense. His three-point shot not only helped the team expand its score advantage, but also ignited the enthusiasm of all the fans. His outstanding performance also made the US media Point Made Basketball praise him on social media, believing that he has the potential to become a top defensive player.

Immediately afterwards, Newell once again showed his strength in the back-to-back match against the Rockets. He made 4 of 9 shots and scored 14 points and 8 rebounds. Although his shooting percentage has declined, his contribution to rebounding cannot be ignored. He is like a rebounding monster on the court, constantly scrambling to compete for every rebound, creating a second chance for the team to attack. In this game, he helped the team win three consecutive victories and became a key figure in the team's victory.

In these three summer league games, Newell proved his strength with his practical actions. His outstanding performance not only gave the Hawks management hope, but also made fans look forward to him. He is like a rising star, blooming his own light in the sky of the NBA. He has the potential to be a top 4 player and as long as he can continuously improve his skills and abilities, he has the opportunity to make his mark in this position.

From the perspective of playing style, Newell has some similarities with Charles Barkley, John Collins and Vanderbilt of the Lakers. Barkley, the power forward who is not outstanding in height, has become a legend in NBA history with his strong body, excellent rebounding ability and tough playing style. His dominance in the penalty area and his diverse offensive methods have made him a difficult target for opponents to defend. Collins is a modern power forward. He has excellent athleticism, three-point shooting ability and pick-and-roll down ability. He can open up space for the team on the offensive end and provide some help on the defensive end. Vanderbilt is a power forward who is known for his defense. His rebounding ability, defensive awareness and coordination are excellent, and he can provide solid guarantees for the team on the defensive end.

Newell has similar characteristics to them in some ways. His athleticism and physical fitness have given him a certain dominance at the basket, and he can complete difficult endings and rebounding. His three-point shooting potential also makes him a powerful forward who can open up space. And his enthusiasm and talent on the defensive end also gives him the opportunity to become an excellent defensive player.

If Newell can fully realize his potential and continuously improve his skills and abilities, he has a chance to reach the All-Star threshold. To achieve this, he still needs to work hard in many aspects. On the offensive end, he needs to further improve his three-point shooting stability and make himself the target of his opponent's defense. At the same time, he also needs to develop his own ball-holding offensive ability, increase his offensive means, and improve his independent offensive production efficiency. On the defensive end, he needs to constantly accumulate game experience, improve his defensive awareness and position selection ability, and increase his muscle mass and improve his confrontational ability to deal with those larger and more confrontational offensive players.

For the Hawks, Newell's future development is crucial. His growth will directly affect the team's future direction. If he can grow into an All-Star player, the Hawks will undoubtedly have a core player and the team's strength will be greatly improved. Even if he cannot reach the All-Star height, as long as he can continue to improve and become a stable starter, he will provide strong support for the Hawks' inside.

Assa-Newell's future is full of hope and challenges. He is like a newly planted seed. Although it still takes time to water and cultivate, it has shown the potential to thrive. In the days to come, let us look forward to him shining more dazzling light on the NBA stage and writing his own legend.