Atlanta Hawks Acquire Asa Newell and 2026 First-Round Pick in Draft-Night Trade with Pelicans

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks have acquired the draft rights to Asa Newell, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, along with a 2026 first-round pick (most favorable of New Orleans and Milwaukee), in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. In exchange, Atlanta sends Derik Queen, the No. 13 pick in the 2025 Draft, to New Orleans.

“Asa is unbelievable. With where the league is going, people with size and athleticism like that just make sense,” said Hawks General Manager Onsi Saleh. “He’s a great screener, a great human being, a ridiculous athlete, and a really smart player too. He is an unbelievable competitor and does things that impact winning.”

Newell, a 6-foot-9 forward from Atlanta, played his lone collegiate season at the University of Georgia, where he made an immediate impact. He started all 33 games for the Bulldogs, averaging 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 74.8 percent from the free throw line.

His standout freshman campaign included four SEC Freshman of the Week honors, tying the program record set by former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards. Newell also became the first freshman since Jumaine Jones (1997-98) to lead Georgia in both scoring and rebounding.

He recorded seven double-doubles in 2024-25, tied for the fourth-most among NCAA freshmen. One of his most dominant performances came in the SEC Tournament on March 12, when he posted 21 points and 17 rebounds against Oklahoma — the most rebounds in a game by a Georgia player since 2020.

Newell made a splash in his collegiate debut, scoring 26 points on 13-of-22 shooting with 11 rebounds, a steal, and three blocks against Tennessee Tech. His 26 points tied Georgia and Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins for the most by a Bulldogs freshman in their debut.

Before joining Georgia, Newell played his final two years of high school at powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida, where he teamed up with top prospects Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen.

With this move, the Hawks not only add a high-upside hometown talent in Newell but also secure future draft flexibility with an additional first-round pick in 2026, signaling a strategic investment in both the present and the future.