The Atlanta Hawks robbed New Orleans two offseasons in a row, this time trading back from the 13th pick to the 23rd pick and the Pelicans' 2026 first round pick. The trade continues to get better for Atlanta after Sam Vecenie reported that the club already wanted Newell at 13. Vecenie also ranked the trade as the best move of the offseason, above the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade.
While Vecenie does not say for certain that the Hawks would have taken Newell at 13, he indicates that Newell was one of the guys the team was considering. Still, with how bad the Pelicans project to be next season, winning their unprotected first is an absolute steal regardless of whether the Hawks wanted him at 13.