CJ McCollum becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. Should the Atlanta Hawks re-sign the veteran shooting guard?
NBA analyst Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report believes the Atlanta Hawks' worst fear this offseason involves CJ McCollum.
McCollum becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 NBA Finals.
"How do the Atlanta Hawks not bring CJ McCollum back after he effectively won them two playoff games by himself? Led by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Hawks have a stash of wings and forwards that would make most teams jealous," Hughes wrote. "McCollum, the main return in the Trae Young trade, provided the primary playmaking and from-scratch scoring none of them could in the postseason. Yes, the New York Knicks overwhelmed the Hawks as the series progressed. But McCollum's impact early on was undeniable.
"That said, Atlanta could get itself into trouble by assuming McCollum, 34, can continue to play at the level he reached in those early games against the Knicks. Overpaying a player in his decline phase, even if he so recently played a key role, is a real risk."
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 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 fascinating 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.
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