Five months…
Five months was all it took for CJ McCollum to earn a $21 million payday from the Atlanta Hawks. Some fans might be upset that it’s only for one year of service, but his leadership is well worth the investment.
His new deal also allows the Hawks some stress relief if the 34-year-old starts to show signs of a decline next season. With his 35th birthday arriving in September, it’s only natural to analyze the value of his new contract
Young Hawks will heavily benefit from his services next season
He made a profound impact on the league’s third-youngest team. McCollum led the Hawks into the playoffs after a turbulent regular season, where he averaged 19.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists against the New York Knicks.
The newly-crowned NBA Champions suffocated McCollum with pressure following Game 3 and taught the rest of the Hawks roster a valuable lesson in postseason basketball. Now McCollum has the opportunity to reiterate his teachings and give even more lessons to the locker room.
It’s divine timing for Jalen Johnson and the rest of the Hawks as they welcome a new member to their nest on Tuesday night. If the Hawks decide to go with a point guard, McCollum will offer some valuable knowledge to his new backup.
Whether they select Kingston Flemings or choose Mikel Brown Jr., either will be given the keys to the second unit from day one. A high usage role off the bench will prepare them for the starting lineup, which could happen if McCollum travels elsewhere for the 2027-2028 season.
Some fans might want their new rookie to start from opening night, and let McCollum be a spark plug off the bench. This raises the question: What role will CJ fulfill next season?
A fresh new role could be best for McCollum next season
The entire basketball world marveled at McCollum’s clutch plays in Madison Square Garden, and if he starts, fans will expect similar performances after securing a $21 million paycheck. He was brought into the starting lineup for his scoring, and although he provided consistent offense, we must truly assess if it’s better than the alternative.
If Onsi Saleh adds one of the aforementioned prospects to the roster, both would be talented enough to start on opening night. As rookies, they’ll naturally adapt a pass-first playstyle, which could benefit the Hawks, who just led the entire league in assists last season.
The most convenient part of allowing McCollum to lead the bench is that the Hawks will have a solidified bucket-getter in their second unit. One of their weaknesses last year was halfcourt shot-creation, and making the veteran a sixth-man would give the Hawks 48 minutes of reliable guard play.
His new contract has given the team clarity on the situation moving forward as McCollum trains their new rookie. It also offers contingency since it’s common for guards to hit a wall in their mid-30s, and the Hawks will already have their replacement from off the draft board.
So far, McCollum's tenure has been a massive win for the city, and now we’ll see him get a full year with his new team.
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