Asa Newell’s preseason surge may not translate right away into a bigger regular-season role for the Hawks.
He looked like a player ready to push his way into the nightly rotation, and that alone was an important step for his development. But Atlanta’s frontcourt picture is crowded enough that even a strong summer might not be enough to crack open a consistent 20-plus minutes-per-game role.
That squeeze starts with Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson. As long as both are healthy and active, there just isn’t much room for another frontcourt piece to carve out major minutes.
Johnson may not eat into small-ball center time, but his presence still cuts down the opportunities for players who work mainly at the 4 and 5, which puts Newell directly in the logjam. Johnson is also positioned to sit right in the middle of the MVP race this season, assuming the Hawks keep winning.
Okongwu, meanwhile, has already settled in as Atlanta’s starting center since Clint Capela left a few seasons ago. The Hawks’ best lineups run through him in the middle, and there’s no reason to expect that to change now.
Newell’s path gets even tighter because Jock Landale may have had an even stronger preseason. Landale has already won over Coach Snyder, and last season he showed what he can bring before leaving with a right high-ankle spreain: physical defense and elite floor-spacing at the five. The source makes the point plainly - Atlanta likely would have been much more competitive with the champs had he been available.
So for now, Newell may have to wait. That could mean a role closer to what he saw as a rookie rather than the expanded spot his preseason hinted at. Still, that kind of depth is a good problem for Atlanta to have, especially when it means a talent like Newell can either help off the bench or step into a larger role if injuries hit.
In Other News...
Hawks Get A Chance To Answer Last Year's Orlando Frustration
Last spring, the Hawks learned how thin the margins can be in a playoff chase when Jock Landale went down against Orlando and never made it back in time for the first-round series with the Knicks. Atlanta never quite had the size or physical edge it wanted in that matchup, and the absence of a useful frontcourt piece lingered as one of those what-ifs that can hang around long after the season ends.
Now the schedule has brought the Magic back into view, and Landale is in a far better spot heading into the rematch. He has looked much more comfortable in preseason and is expected to be available, giving Atlanta a chance to see whether a healthier, more physical rotation can help it answer some of the frustration that started in that game last year. [Read more 🡒]
Lu Dort Faces An Early Hawks Test That Really Matters
The season opener against Orlando already carries a little extra weight for Atlanta, not just because it is a divisional game, but because the Magic are one of the few early opponents whose playoff outlook looks close to the Hawks'. For Lu Dort, it is also a first real chance to show how quickly he can slot into Atlanta's plans after being brought in for the kind of rugged, position-versatile defense that can travel in any matchup.
Dort's value should be obvious right away against Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, two Orlando pieces the Hawks will need to deal with over the course of the night. The bigger question is how smoothly everything fits around him, because Atlanta has reasons to want Dort on the floor and reasons to keep an eye on what happens when his offensive game is part of the equation in a game where every possession matters. [Read more 🡒]
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Opens With A Chance To Burn Orlando Again
The Hawks are getting a familiar opening-night test, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will have a chance to pick up right where he left off against Orlando. Atlanta starts the 2026-27 season against a Magic team that he handled well a year ago, when his rise into Most Improved Player territory helped establish him as one of the leagues more uncomfortable matchups for Orlando.
The bigger wrinkle is that the Magic are bringing back most of the same core, which makes this feel less like a fresh scouting report and more like a continuation of an old problem. The coaching change from Jamahl Mosley to Sean Sweeney adds a new voice on the sideline, but Atlanta still has reason to expect the same type of physical, familiar opener, with Alexander-Walker again positioned to set the tone early. [Read more 🡒]