Atlanta Hawks' Biggest Need In 2026 NBA Draft Revealed

According to NBA analyst Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, the Atlanta Hawks need to improve their isolation scoring through the 2026 NBA Draft. 

The Hawks have the eighth overall pick in this year's draft. 

"The Atlanta Hawks are in a great position to take an elite guard in the lottery with the use of the New Orleans Pelicans' first-round pick, as players like Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr. and Brayden Burries are all expected to go in the 5-to-10 range," Swartz wrote. "Atlanta could use the extra backcourt firepower, as the Hawks ranked dead last in the NBA in isolation scoring this season (0.80 points per possession), shooting just 37.6 percent overall on their lowly 4.8 attempts per game.

"This need only becomes greater if CJ McCollum doesn't return in free agency. With two first-round picks, however, the Hawks should be able to address this area."

If the Hawks can land Mikel Brown, that would be a major win for the franchise. Brown has been compared to CJ McCollum and Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland. 

Brown averaged 18.2 points per game for Louisville while shooting 34.4% from 3. He could be Atlanta's microwave bench scorer next season. 

Not only do the Hawks need to draft a talented isolation scorer in this year's draft, but they also must re-sign McCollum. Atlanta acquired McCollum from the Washington Wizards in the blockbuster Trae Young trade. The veteran scorer appeared in 41 regular-season games with the Hawks and averaged 18.7 points per contest. That's production Atlanta can't afford to lose. 

McCollum and the Hawks lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2026 playoffs in six games. Atlanta hasn't won a playoff series since 2021. That's the year Young led the franchise to the conference finals. 

The 34-year-old McCollum finished the 2025-26 regular season averaging 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game with the Wizards and Hawks while shooting 45.5% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc and 77.2% from the foul line. He's been in the NBA since 2013. 

It will be intriguing to see if McCollum re-signs with the Hawks or joins another team this summer. The Ohio native has played for the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Wizards and Hawks. He holds career averages of 19.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. McCollum won the 2015-16 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with the Blazers.  

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Hawks want to re-sign McCollum. Atlanta has McCollum's full bird rights and CJ proved to be a good fit alongside Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The guy who acquired McCollum, Onsi Saleh, has been promoted to president of basketball operations in Atlanta. The Hawks also signed Saleh to a long-term contract extension.

Saleh staying with the Hawks bodes well for McCollum. After all, Saleh made the bold move of trading Young to get McCollum. It's doubtful Saleh chooses to lose McCollum this quickly after trading an All-Star [Young] to get him.  

Anything can happen once free agency starts, but the prevailing thought in the NBA is that Atlanta will re-sign McCollum this summer. There was mutual interest in a deal shortly after his trade to the Hawks and the circumstances surrounding that have not changed. 

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