Asa Newell - NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Newell took his talents to Georgia as one of the highest-rated signees in program history and raised his draft stock throughout the season. The forward is an impactful defender and finisher around the basket.

Newell made a name for himself on the offensive glass throughout the season, ranking 20th in the country with his mobility and relentless pursuit down low. He is a prototypical rim-running big man with a limited offensive game outside of the paint, but he performed well in the 3-point shooting drills at the combine on Tuesday, hitting 14-of-25 in the star drill. Newell has a wide range at the moment (12-22) but could establish himself as a lottery pick with a strong predraft showing.

This strikes me as a perfect fit for Newell. He's an all-energy big who was extremely productive at Georgia this year, averaging 15.4 points and seven rebounds as a freshman. However, his skills aren't exactly tailor-made for the NBA. He's a bit stuck positionally between the four and the five; scouts question whether he'll measure to his listed height of 6-11, and he doesn't possess a ton of length. However, he's also not all that skilled as a shooter or ballhandler at this stage on the perimeter. The Nets would be able to develop him a bit more slowly in terms of his skill set while also giving him some playing time to let his energy wreak havoc on opposing teams.

The Nets will likely just be talent searching here with their late first-round picks.

Pro Comparisons: Jalen Smith, Brandon Clarke, David Lee

The draft process creates a chance for Asa Newell to sell more scouts on his shooting. It's an obvious swing skill for upside, given what a regular three-ball can do for a 6'11" finishing weapon with excellent paint touch and encouraging defensive feet.

Newell's 29.2 three-point percentage wasn't overly convincing, but he did convert 41.5 percent of his threes at Montverde last year, while his 26 made threes at Georgia reflect clear shooting capability/potential.

Team Fit: If Newell's shooting perks up, he could complement Alperen Sengun well as a floor-spacing, switchable big off the bench. Houston also seems likely to shop this pick.

Scouting report: Newell's productivity and pre-college résumé make him an interesting developmental bet. He offers size, motor and mobility but needs to sharpen his offensive skills and overall awareness to become a high-impact NBA player.

Teams will be intrigued to see how his perimeter skills measure up in workout settings, as he likely profiles best at power forward long term and will need to be able to knock down shots and put the ball on the floor confidently to make that transition. He was highly regarded out of high school and had a nice season at Georgia, profiling as more of a developmental pick for an NBA team that doesn't need him to play major minutes right away. -- Woo

NBA intel and fit: The Jazz own this second first-round pick by way of Minnesota in the Gobert trade. Though Utah's lottery pick will be the biggest decision ahead, it found value with its later selections last season (Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski) and could do so again at this spot. -- Woo

Newell is an athletic play finisher who dunks with power at every opportunity, bullies smaller forwards on the offensive glass, and provides some secondary rim protection. He isn't a good outside shooter yet after hitting 29 percent of his threes, but his stroke looks projectable enough that it should keep improving. He feels a bit caught between positions at 6'9 with a 7-foot wingspan, not big enough to anchor a defense at center or skilled enough to fully play on the perimeter as a big wing. Still, Newell's ability to play with force around the basket is appealing, and if he lands with a gifted facilitator, he could walk into easy buckets just by playing with energy.

Newell is caught between glimmers of offensive promise and worries that he might simply be an energy big. The path to avoiding the latter outcome is ball skill development. We know that Newell will be active on the glass, we know he doesn't mind playing without the ball, we know his motor on defense is highly useful for a guy his size. But will he consistently shoot it to avoid being ignored? Will he physically hold his own enough to leverage those positives? He's a major upside swing, and getting that at this spot in the draft would be a coup for Brooklyn.

Newell is 6-foot-11 with above-the-rim dynamism as a lob threat and shot-blocker. His shot-making and length makes him a high-floor type prospect whose skills could seamlessly fit in Orlando.

Newell has springs in his legs, regularly slamming lobs and swatting shots. Even though his discipline reflects his youth, his energetic style suggests he'll someday become a highly versatile defender. Pairing him with Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson would make for quite an exciting foundation in Washington.