The Atlanta Hawks' rookie Asa Newell played well enough in the Las Vegas Summer League to make head coach Quin Snyder think about immediately putting him in the rotation, but the staff may not have a choice. Atlanta is light in the frontcourt, and fans know Kristaps Porzingis is a serious injury risk. The trade back to get Newell is already a win, but could look like a slam dunk if the rookie plays a massive role in year one.
Atlanta likely doesn’t want the 19-year-old earning significant minutes. They made multiple upgrades and want to compete in a weak Eastern Conference.