The Atlanta Hawks traded four-time All-Star Trae Young for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert this past January. Many headlines focused on the lack of return for the Hawks’ former franchise centerpiece- an aging veteran guard and fringe rotation depth forward. Nevertheless, McCollum, a 2026 unrestricted free agent, proved he could play a pivotal role in Atlanta.
He certainly made a positive impact in Games 1-3 against the New York Knicks in the playoffs as the Hawks’ leading scorer and ball handler. However, the final three blowout losses, including a catastrophic Game 6 defeat, exposed McCollum’s limitations and gave Atlanta reasons to let the veteran guard sign elsewhere this offseason.
McCollum’s lack of playmaking proved disastrous in the playoffs
McCollum averaged 19.2 points, 2.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks against New York. However, he struggled mightily with ball security, turning it over a whopping 3.5 times per game.
He scored 26, 32, and 23 points in Games 1-3, respectively, but the Knicks double-teamed the 34-year-old off screens in the following three contests. McCollum never adjusted to getting off the ball correctly, falling right into New York's trap. Atlanta gave away too many easy buckets in transition off McCollum's live-ball turnovers, resulting in three straight ugly defeats.
The Hawks relied on their elite transition scoring throughout the regular season. They finished fifth in pace at 102.5 and scored 18.1 fastbreak points per game, good for third in the NBA, but the playoffs are a different animal. Atlanta had to find other ways to score against the Knicks, and it could not establish an offensive rhythm, averaging 14.7 turnovers in the series.
While the trio of Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and McCollum meshed perfectly in the regular season, the playoffs exposed their limitations. Daniels’ three-point struggles disrupted the spacing, and McCollum and Alexander-Walker could not hit the roller off screens due to their passing constraints. As a result, Atlanta’s half-court offense slowed to a halt
Regardless, Alexander-Walker and Daniels remain important parts of the Hawks’ young core with Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu. McCollum, on the other hand, who turns 35 years old this offseason, does not fit this timeline.
2026 NBA Draft adds more complications for McCollum
Unlike the 2024 offseason, when the Hawks won the No. 1 pick, the lottery odds were not kind to the Hawks this summer. They landed the No. 8 pick in the draft this summer, despite having a 40% chance to jump into the top four. If Atlanta adds a lottery guard this summer, retaining McCollum will only bury the rookie in the rotation.
Guards Kingston Flemings, Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., Keaton Wagler, and Brayden Burries are all slated for selection near Atlanta’s pick next month. After a rough offensive performance against New York, the Hawks must prioritize shooting, playmaking, shot creation, and ball handling to boost their half-court offense in 2026-27.
All five prospects possess these traits and offer more youth and long-term upside than McCollum. Atlanta’s path back to championship contention hinges on its young core’s growth. To truly raise the franchise’s ceiling in the near future, the Hawks need to let McCollum walk in free agency this offseason.
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