Brooklyn eyes veteran scoring punch. Could CJ McCollum's fiery playoff performance ignite the Nets' backcourt and mentor young talent?
Ahead of the NBA draft, the Brooklyn Nets (20-62) have a lot of glaring needs, with one being consistent scoring in the backcourt.
Atlanta Hawks veteran guard CJ McCollum is one potential target for Brooklyn in the offseason, as the elite scorer is coming off of an impressive playoff series.
On Friday, The Athletic's John Hollinger named the Nets as a potential landing spot for McCollum.
"The 34-year-old McCollum is a decade older than the rest of Atlanta’s core but was also key to the Hawks’ two playoff wins. An unrestricted free agent, he likely will have other suitors who value his scoring, although perhaps not as a starter. I canvassed a few execs on his likely value during my recent travels, and most seemed to think one or two years at slightly above the midlevel exception was a fair ballpark (i.e., two years and $35 million to $40 million)," Hollinger wrote. "However, with tanking now verboten, a one-year balloon deal from a struggling cap-room team like the Chicago Bulls or Brooklyn Nets can’t be ruled out."
After being traded from the Washington Wizards as part of the Trae Young deal, McCollum averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and a steal per game, leading the Hawks to a strong end-of-season push.
Although Atlanta fell short in the first round of the playoffs, McCollum shined against the New York Knicks, scoring 32 and 23 points respectively in the Hawks' two playoff victories.
In game 2, McCollum poured in 32 points, adding six assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a block, willing the Hawks to victory.
He followed this up with another do-it-all performance, recording 23 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in game 3, helping Atlanta build a 2-1 series lead.
Although the Hawks as a whole disappointed the rest of the series, McCollum showed that he still has the ability to turn it on in the postseason and lead a team to victory.
With Brooklyn's current roster outlook in the backcourt, the Nets are in desperate need of consistent scoring.
Enter McCollum who has been a staple of consistency since entering the league in 2013.
The former Lehigh standout has averaged 20 or more points in 10 of his 13 professional seasons, shooting at 45/39/79 splits throughout his career.
McCollum would also be a great mentor for a young, talented guard prospect if Brooklyn decides to strengthen the backcourt through the draft.
This year's class is one of the deepest guard groups in recent memory, producing talents like Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois' Keaton Wagler, and Houston's Kingston Flemings.
If the Nets luck into Peterson, who is likely to be taken within the top three, McCollum would be a great teacher for another skilled combo guard like the standout freshman.
Like McCollum, Peterson is a pure scorer, possessing the unique ability to attack and score from nearly anywhere on the hardwood.
For a player like McCollum, $15-$20 million a year seems like a bargain. Signing McCollum would instantly provide a huge lift to the Nets' scoring needs, allowing current young guards like Egor Demin and Nolan Traore to benefit as well.