Asa Newell & CMB: Why Utah’s Draft Priority Could Shape the Next NBA Era

The Two Players Who Could Redefine the Big Man

I’ve spent nights poring over tracking data from 50+ mock drafts this season—and two names keep rising above the noise: Asa Newell (Georgia) and Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina). Not because they dunk hardest—but because they do everything else better.

Newell isn’t a clone of Giannis. He’s 6’10”, 246 lbs, moves like a point guard with height: 55% FG, 30% 3PT, 74.5% FT. His spacing forces defenses to choose: guard him inside or leave him open? He doesn’t need isolation to score—he creates space by cutting hard and reading rotations before the defense even shifts.

CMB? He’s not your traditional power forward. At 6’8”, he defends five positions—handles like Draymond Green if he had a body built for war zones. His 68.8% finish rate at the rim? Unnatural. His passing out of double teams? That’s not an afterthought—it’s instinctual.

The Real Question Isn’t Who to Pick—It’s What You Need

Utah has a 33% chance to slide out of the top five. But if they pick #1? They’re not drafting talent—they’re drafting identity.

Newell gives you floor spacing AND rim protection in one package—a rare combo that fits today’s pace-and-space game. CMB gives you defensive chaos AND offensive glue—the kind of Swiss Army knife who thrives when everything breaks down.

I’d take Newell—because spacing is scarcer than versatility in today’s NBA. But I wouldn’t bet against CMB either. Both are anomalies—not by accident, but by design.

The Data Doesn’t Lie—Your Eyes Might

Watch their highlights blindfolded: no names, no jerseys—just movement, cutting, defending, driving, dunking. The machine sees patterns humans miss: Newell stretches defenses into chaos; CMB turns chaos into structure. That’s why they’ll both be top ten—even if Utah passes them up next year.