The Atlanta Hawks open their Summer League schedule tomorrow in Salt Lake City against a Utah Jazz squad that features No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson. After the Utah test, the Hawks will head to Las Vegas later this month for the league’s final tournament. Both matchups pit two of the season’s deeper Summer League rosters against each other, giving the Hawks a clear early-season barometer.

Three storylines are emerging for Atlanta this summer. First, the Jazz game offers a direct comparison against a high-draft talent. Second, the depth of the Hawks’ Summer League roster provides a platform for multiple young players to showcase their skills. Third, rookie guard Asa Newell stands out as a candidate to earn a regular-season rotation spot if he can translate his limited NBA minutes into sustained production.

Newell’s rookie campaign produced a modest statistical line but revealed promising efficiency. He appeared in 44 games for Atlanta, averaging 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per contest while shooting 54 percent from the floor and 39 percent from three-point range. Those shooting splits directly address a question that followed him from college, where consistency had been a concern.

In the G-League with the College Park Skyhawks, Newell’s numbers were markedly higher. Over 15 games he posted 22.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, shooting 57 percent overall and 38 percent from beyond the arc while logging more than 32 minutes per contest. The stark contrast between his limited NBA minutes and his dominant G-League production suggests that, when given a larger role, he can maintain efficient scoring and contribute on the boards.

If Newell can replicate that efficiency in Salt Lake City and later in Las Vegas, he will make a compelling case for inclusion in the Hawks’ regular-season rotation next year. A strong showing could earn him a preseason invitation and, ultimately, a spot on the active roster. Conversely, a tepid performance would likely relegate him to a continued developmental role with the Skyhawks, where he has already demonstrated the ability to dominate.

For a franchise that has been quietly building a pool of young, cost-controlled talent, Newell’s Summer League performance serves as an early indicator of how the Hawks plan to blend veteran pieces with emerging players. His trajectory this month will either validate the organization’s developmental approach or signal the need to look elsewhere for the wing depth the team hopes to secure as it moves forward.