The NBA draft is just four days away, and all the chatter surrounding the Pelicans revolves around them trading to select Tre Johnson or maybe still Ace Bailey. So instead of talking about that, let's take a step back and talk about Asa Newell.
The 19-year-old is coming off a strong freshman season with the Georgia Bulldogs and was brought in for a pre-draft workout early on by the Pelicans. At the NBA draft combine, Newell measured 6'9" barefoot with a 6'11" wingspan and could give the Pelicans some additional size alongside Kelly Olynyk and Yves Missi. He is coming off a dominant season for Georgia, averaging 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.
Newell is the ideal front-court prospect with his length and size, ability to create havoc on the defensive end, and how efficient of a scorer he is, shooting 54.3% from the field. Despite his age, Newell could come into the NBA and be a quality defender and rim presence from the jump, something the Pelicans could look to add.
What makes Asa Newell a sleeper star
Newell is one of the most complete big-man prospects in this class as he is a threat as a finisher, can defend the 2 through 5, has great rim-protecting skills, is a high-IQ player and rebounds at an elite level.
Starting with his finishing ability, Newell had a field goal percentage of 73.1% at the rim this season. He got to the rim in many ways, driving by slower defenders, and imposing his body on post-ups to bully smaller defenders. He also has excellent footwork, something he used to create separation from his defenders, before throwing down dunks all over them. He also isn't afraid of contact, and loves to use his body to absorb and finish through it.
Defensively, he is also a beast at the rim. He is a great rim protector, as offensive players struggle to score with him roaming the paint. He is a similar rim presence as Nic Claxton. Newell is a great one-on-one defender and often tries to force his opponents to drive so he can block their shot. Even when he or a teammate gets blown by and seems there's an open basket, he is an excellent recovery defender and will come out of nowhere and make a stop.
He isn't the most athletic big man, but he definitely gets the job done in that department. However, the athleticism he does have really shines on the defensive end as he gets so high vertically and is a threat blocking almost any type of shot because of his leaping ability.
In the modern NBA, switchability as a defender is very valuable, and Newell does it very well. He doesn't get exposed in switch situations and can hang with any position outside of point guards, as they are typically just too quick for Newell.
As far as crashing the glass and rebounding goes, I'm convinced he is one of the class's best. He averaged 6.9 rebounds per game, and 3.4 of those came on the offensive glass. Newell plays with such a high motor and has that type of fight that we see elite rebounders often have.
His only real flaws are his weight and shooting ability. Regarding his weight, Newell is slender for someone his height. That being said, NBA draft experts Tyler Metcalf and Tyler Rucker of No Ceilings has mentioned that Newell has been adding weight ahead of the draft.
As far as his shooting goes, under 30% from three is not good, but there's room to grow as his shooting mechanics are solid, and the fact that he is a lefty intrigues me.
Regarding NBA comparisons, Newell's skill set is very similar to Chris Bosh's. Both move fluidly and play with finesse. While I think Newell projects to be a better defender, their offensive polish and feel for the game are strikingly similar, and their left-handed scoring styles make the comparison all the more fitting.
What is Newell's draft range?
Newell doesn't have a clear range in this draft. In Bleacher Report's latest mock draft, he went 8th to Chicago, ESPN had him falling to the Wizards at 18, and CBS had him going at 19th to the Nets.
This range puts the Pelicans in an interesting spot, with them having both No. 7 and No. 23. Drafting Newell at 7 could be a major reach, but it would pay off in the long term, and at 23, he would be an absolute steal.
Teams often get their hearts set on certain guys, leading to the draft going ways no one could've predicted, so don't be surprised if Newell ends up falling to New Orleans at 23.