The Hawks will be without Asa Newell for a while, and they’re also waiting on Keshon Gilbert after a knee procedure.
Newell, the second-year big man, suffered a left great toe hyperextension in Wednesday’s win over Washington. Atlanta said he’ll be reevaluated in about two weeks, though that doesn’t guarantee a return then. The team’s update said another status report “will be provided at that time.”
That timeline leaves Newell out for at least the next stretch of games. Atlanta plays seven times over the next two weeks, with a home matchup against Charlotte on November 20 standing out as a possible reevaluation date.
Newell had recently worked his way into rotation minutes because the Hawks have been dealing with a battered frontcourt. Jalen Johnson is out with a left ankle sprain, Jock Landale has a left hip strain, Mouhamed Gueye is recovering from a left foot fracture and Henri Veesaar is sidelined with a right ACL tear.
Johnson, who was initially listed as questionable for Friday’s rematch with the Wizards, has now been downgraded to out and will miss his third straight game, according to Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks. Landale will also sit for the third game in a row, while Gueye and Veesaar remain in long-term recovery.
Newell, the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 draft, has appeared in five games this season and is averaging 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game.
Gilbert’s situation is longer term. The two-way guard underwent a non-surgical procedure Thursday to deal with inflammation in his left knee, and the Hawks said he’ll be reevaluated in roughly six weeks. Gilbert played at UNLV and Iowa State.
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Atlantas draft position should only sharpen the conversation, since the team is set to receive the less favorable pick between New Orleans and Milwaukee and is likely to land in the lottery range. For a club trying to balance immediate help with future flexibility, the question is less about whether there will be options and more about which direction best fits the roster the Hawks are trying to build. [Read more 🡒]