Atlanta Hawks Rookie Falls Out Of Frontcourt Rotation

Newell spaced the floor, grabbed offensive boards (28 in 33 games), made quick decisions on the move, and handled the ball in transition. He played consistent backup center and power forward minutes behind Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson with Kristaps Porziņģis‘ limited availability. The 7-foot-3-inch center has only appeared in 17 games this season.

While Newell thrived offensively, he struggled on the defensive end. Stronger, taller fives often overpowered him on the glass or deep in the post when he played backup center minutes.

After Atlanta drafted him, he mentioned wanting to “get stronger, eat more, [and] grow into [his] grown-man body.” His best minutes came at power forward when he could use his athleticism to grab rebounds instead of trying to box out stronger centers. Newell could also play the passing lanes more and get out on the break easier this way. Gueye and Newell struggled at center for similar reasons, but it seems Snyder favors Gueye’s rim protection and defensive instincts over the rookie’s offensive punch for now.

Christian Koloko Enters the Picture

The Hawks needed a backup center for months, as they dealt with Porziņģis’ injuries and N’Faly Dante‘s season-ending torn ACL. They signed Skyhawks big man Malik Williams on a two-way deal, but he did not play and was waived shortly after. They then signed Christian Koloko to a two-way contract on Jan. 16, and he has made an immediate impact. This move pushed Newell out of the rotation, allowing Gueye to strictly play the backup four.

Koloko averaged 6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in his first three games for Atlanta. His best performance came against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 26. He collected a career-high 12 points, shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the field, with four rebounds, one assist, and three blocks in 17 minutes.

Koloko showcased his strong screen-setting and rim protection throughout the contest. He also ran the floor well on fastbreak opportunities, which the Hawks rely on for offensive consistency. Okongwu’s strong 3-point shooting allows Snyder to play him at power forward next to Koloko. This gives Atlanta more rim protection, while Okongwu plays to his versatile defensive strengths.

Koloko’s emergence pushed Newell out of the rotation during Porziņģis’ absence. Whether Snyder sticks with the same rotation upon the star center’s return remains to be seen.