Hawks Exercise Asa Newell's Third-Year Option
Atlanta keeps the 2025 No. 23 pick under contract through the 2027-28 season.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Basketball
The Atlanta Hawks picked up the third-year contract option for forward Asa Newell, keeping him under contract through the 2027-28 season. The move came one day after Newell scored 13 points with four rebounds off the bench in a 121-99 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Why it matters
The option gives Atlanta cost certainty over a young player taken No. 23 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. It also signals the team's continued investment in Newell's development after a limited role last season.
Newell's 13-point, four-rebound night was his third bench appearance this season, following three total points across his first two games. His 2025-26 averages of 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds across 44 games, two of them starts, mark the baseline the option is built on.
The players
Asa Newell
Asa Newell is a forward drafted No. 23 overall in 2025 and traded to the Atlanta Hawks on draft night.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an NBA franchise based in Atlanta, Georgia, and a member of the league's Eastern Conference.
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are an NBA franchise based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the original drafting team for Asa Newell.
The details
The Hawks acquired Newell on draft night after the New Orleans Pelicans selected him, then picked up the third-year option one day after his bench production against those same Pelicans. The 121-99 defeat did not diminish the value of Newell's contribution, which came off the bench as in most of his appearances this season.
Timeline
2025 NBA Draft: Newell selected No. 23 overall and traded to Atlanta.
Last season: Newell averaged 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 44 games.
Saturday: Newell scored 13 points in the loss to the Pelicans.
2027-28 season: Contract option keeps Newell under contract through this season.
Season Trajectory
Exercising a third-year option on a No. 23 pick keeps Atlanta's young core intact while the team evaluates whether Newell can grow beyond a bench role. The decision sits alongside the Pelicans' own handling of the pick they originally held.
Newell's guaranteed deal through 2027-28 makes him a stable roster piece for the Hawks' bench rotation. Fantasy managers tracking young Atlanta forwards can treat his 13-point, four-rebound game as a sign of what a bench role may bring.
The takeaway
Exercising a rookie option is often a quiet signal of organizational patience, and Atlanta's decision on Newell reflects that. Readers tracking the Hawks should watch his minutes and role over the coming weeks.
Further reading
For more on the team, see Basketball coverage of the Atlanta Hawks.
