Quin Snyder and CJ McCollum believe Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins can bring championship habits, defense and late-game experience to Atlanta.
The Atlanta Hawks held media day Monday, one day before opening training camp in Nashville. Hawks coach Quin Snyder and CJ McCollum both brought up the 2025 championship that Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins won with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Atlanta acquired Wiggins from the Thunder on July 6 for two second-round picks. Dort arrived July 19 in a three-team trade that sent Zaccharie Risacher, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, to the Dallas Mavericks.
Onsi Saleh, the Hawks' president of basketball operations, went through the thinking behind both deals at his preseason press conference last week.
Snyder Points to Dort, Wiggins' Championship Pedigree
Snyder said McCollum, who came over from the Washington Wizards in January, was one of the players who embraced Atlanta's defensive mentality after the trade. He sees Dort and Wiggins as two more players who already understand what that commitment requires.
"I think first, to add players with championship-level pedigree, that's something in and of itself that's an excellent addition," Snyder said. "Fundamentally, you do understand the importance of defending ... that's something our team began to really embrace. It's a crucial element of our team ... and when we're grounded there and with our habits, that's when we'll be able to run. Those guys have experienced that."
After the All-Star break last season, Atlanta allowed 108.6 points per 100 possessions. Only Oklahoma City was better over that stretch. For the full season, the Hawks ranked 10th in defensive rating.
Dort made the All-Defensive First Team in 2024-25. Last season, he appeared in 69 games for the Thunder and averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from 3-point range.
Dort defended 2026 All-Stars for 1,238 matchups last season, the third-most in the NBA. In the playoffs, he averaged 5.5 points and 2.7 rebounds as Oklahoma City went through the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers before the conference finals.
ESPN ranked him 100th on its top 100 players list this month, down from 64th a year ago.
Wiggins Brings Another Piece of Thunder Experience
Wiggins played 65 games last season and started 21 of them. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
His career-best scoring season came in 2024-25, when he averaged 12.0 points in 76 games during the Thunder's title run.
In the 2026 playoffs, Wiggins appeared in 13 games and averaged 5.8 minutes. Oklahoma City's season ended in May with a loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals.
McCollum Says Thunder's Fourth Quarters Stood Out
Oklahoma City's fourth quarters stood out to McCollum. He believes Dort and Wiggins can bring some of those winning habits into Atlanta's late-game situations.
"I'm most excited about going through a full training camp," McCollum said. "We were all here on and off in the summer. Everyone was here early in the summer and we were able to build camaraderie and trust."
"Obviously, they have championship pedigree," McCollum continued. "The habits, ability to perform down the stretch of games. The ability to perform in the fourth quarter — the Thunder have won a lot of fourth quarter games and it's because of those guys. It'll be fun to have them."
McCollum averaged 18.7 points per game with the Hawks after the Jan. 9 trade that sent Trae Young to Washington. He signed a one-year, $21 million extension in June.
ESPN ranked him 87th on this year's top 100 after he missed the list last year.
Wiggins Welcomes Reunion With Dort
Wiggins thanked Saleh for the Dort trade. The two spent five seasons together in Oklahoma City, and Wiggins was happy to learn they would continue as teammates in Atlanta.
"As soon as I found out he was getting traded I called him," Wiggins said. "Super grateful for Onsi for making the move. I'm looking forward to the transition."
Oklahoma City drafted Wiggins 55th overall in 2021 out of Maryland.
Dort is entering the final season of the five-year, $82.5 million contract he signed with the Thunder in July 2022. He will make $17.7 million this season.
Atlanta used a trade exception from the previous season to take on Wiggins' contract, which hard-capped the Hawks at the first apron for 2026-27. Wiggins will make $9.0 million this season.
