Atlanta Hawks' CJ McCollum Ranked 19th-Best Free Agent This Offseason

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum has been ranked the 19th-best free agent this summer.   

NBA analyst Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has McCollum ahead of Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. but behind Detroit Pistons wing Tobias Harris. 

"While he was never known as a great defender and isn't likely to earn the kind of salary he's earning this year, McCollum shouldn't have too much trouble finding a home next season (possibly back in Atlanta)," Pincus wrote. 

The Hawks acquired McCollum from the Washington Wizards in the blockbuster Trae Young trade. McCollum appeared in 41 regular-season games with Atlanta. He averaged 18.7 points per contest. 

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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