The Hawks’ start to the 2026-27 season has been rough enough that even small moves feel meaningful. After another loss, this one to the New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta turned to Asa Newell and gave itself a little more room to breathe by going beyond a nine-man rotation.
That meant Newell, the second-year forward, was back in the mix. He was the last player off the bench before the main group was pulled, and Atlanta used 10 players on Saturday night. It didn’t change the result, but it did give the Hawks a look at a piece they clearly still believe in.
A few hours later, that belief showed up in the front office, too. On Sunday morning, after Newell’s real season debut, the Hawks exercised his third-year option for the 2027-28 season.
Hawks exercised Asa Newell’s third-year option this morning
- Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) November 1, 2026
It was an easy call. At $3.5 million, there’s very little downside in keeping around a forward who was drafted in the first round three seasons ago and has already shown flashes of real value. The more Newell plays, the more natural he should look.
His appeal is pretty clear. He can handle the ball, guard more than one spot, and he’s willing to shoot from deep - exactly the kind of profile that fits what Atlanta wants to build. That outside touch stood out during his rookie season, and if he keeps anything close to that level, he should stick in the rotation for a long time.
That matters even more right now because the Hawks need shooting wherever they can find it. Their recent work from beyond the arc has been a problem, and the offense against New Orleans made that plain. Atlanta hit just eight of 46 shots from deep, a 17% clip.
Newell’s return offered at least one bright spot. In 19 minutes, he finished just one point behind Atlanta’s leading scorer despite the loss.
He went 1-for-6 from three, but that kind of line isn’t likely to define him. The Hawks have already seen enough to trust the track record, and now they’ve locked him in for another year while he continues developing into the kind of versatile piece they think he can be.
In Other News...
Hawks Just Sent A Clear Signal About Asa Newells Role
The Hawks made an early commitment to Asa Newell, exercising the 2027-28 team option on the second-year forwards contract and locking in his salary for that season. Newell, a first-round pick in 2025, has already been part of the organizations long-term planning, and this move gives Atlanta another clear sign that it still sees a future for him as part of the roster picture.
Newells path has not been a straight line, though, with the forward appearing in 47 games across his first two seasons as he continues to try to carve out a steadier role. The option decision came before the Nov. 2 deadline, and while it secures his place financially, it also leaves open the bigger question of how much of a role he can win as the Hawks keep sorting out their frontcourt rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Problem Ahead Of Indiana
The Hawks are heading into their matchup with Indiana with their frontcourt suddenly looking thin, and the injury report could force some quick decisions before tipoff. Jalen Johnson is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain, while Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar have all been ruled out, leaving Atlanta with fewer options than usual up front.
If Johnson cannot go, the Hawks may have to get creative with their rotation and piece together the center spot on the fly. That could mean leaning on younger depth and scrambling the frontcourt alignment in a game where the Pacers will be able to test every bit of that flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Suddenly Have A Point Guard Problem They Cant Ignore
Kingston Flemings night ended early in a recent loss to the Pelicans, and the way it ended left the Hawks with more than just a bad result to sort through. The rookie point guard was ejected after a late incident involving Bryce McGowens, a moment that has now put his availability under the microscope as the league weighs whether further discipline is coming.
For Atlanta, the concern is bigger than one missed game. Flemings has been part of the rotation at a position where the Hawks do not have much margin for error, and any suspension would force the staff to lean even harder on its veteran backcourt help. With the guard room already thin, the team may have to adjust quickly if the league decides to add to the punishment. [Read more 🡒]