The league-wide assumption following the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Playoffs was that the Atlanta Hawks would bring back veteran guard CJ McCollum. After the way he showed up for them, he deserved a new deal, regardless of the length.
It didn't take long for the two sides to come to an agreement, with Atlanta ultimately re-signing him to a one-year, $21 million contract.
While the price may be higher than many initially anticipated, they didn't want to commit to him for any longer than a single season for a reason. President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh can keep his options open, and really, so can McCollum - in very different ways.
McCollum faces an incredibly unique situation in his 14th NBA season
He'll probably have some sort of say on his usage, but he's been open to a variety of roles in his relatively-new tenure with the Hawks.
Acquired in early January as part of the controversial Trae Young-Washington trade, McCollum's original role in Atlanta was to be their lead shot-creator off the bench. They weren't quite ready to send former first-overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to the second unit.
When Head Coach Quin Snyder noticed how effective the minutes McCollum shared with the other four starters were, he made the necessary adjustment, and success followed. The Hawks were on fire.
The expectation following last season's conclusion was that he would remain in the starting lineup, no matter what. While he'll very likely enter the upcoming season among the group, his low-commitment contract combined with the team's impressive guard depth could make another in-season fix necessary.
Honestly, it all really depends on just how well the Hawks are doing ahead of the deadline.
They could be incentivized in moving McCollum to the bench, at some point, in favor of rookie point guard Kingston Flemings. Maybe they go out and get Denver's Peyton Watson - which has been rumored for weeks - giving the veteran an even shorter leash.
Regardless, they'll need McCollum's undeniable veteran presence
The largest responsibility he undoubtedly holds entering the 2026-27 season is being the glue to the locker room. It's important to remember just how young this Hawks team is, and McCollum being on the roster is invaluable.
He played a major part in bringing them all together during last year's late-season surge, and they shouldn't move on from them unless it's clear they have to.
McCollum - a well-respected veteran - is happy in Atlanta. The organization is thrilled to have him for this pivotal season, too, as his adaptability could end up going a long way for them in their pursuit of Eastern Conference contention.
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