Now that the 2026 NBA Finals have concluded, the offseason is officially here.
It's been here for the Atlanta Hawks for well over a month now, but action doesn't typically begin until all teams can start making moves. Several internal decisions can now be made for all 30 NBA teams, and the Hawks have no shortage of their own they have to make.
Teams may now begin negotiating with their own impending free agents, as well as extension-eligible players. Atlanta must decide what to do with CJ McCollum, Jonathan Kuminga, Jock Landale and Gabe Vincent. All of them have reasonable cases to be brought back, but the decisions won't be as simple as many may think.
The Hawks will likely maintain a similar level of activity to last summer
They'll have to keep that in mind as they consider who on their own team they should seriously look into bringing back. CJ McCollum has the strongest case to be re-signed, as he recently knocked down two postseason game-winners and continues to be one of the better veteran presences in the league.
If there's one that'll get done much sooner than the others, it's McCollum's. A short-term deal would benefit both sides heavily, regardless of which direction Atlanta decides to go in the upcoming NBA Draft.
The others are a lot trickier. Sure, Jock Landale being brought back would make a ton of sense, as he was an incredibly solid backup big for Onyeka Okongwu, but there's going to be plenty of ways they could improve down low even more than just re-signing him.
Aside from the possibility of selecting Michigan's Aday Mara with the eighth-overall pick, the Hawks could always look to free agency, as Walker Kessler, Isaiah Hartenstein and Robert Williams III could all be available at the right price.
And then there's Jonathan Kuminga, who presents the Hawks with their trickiest decision of the summer.
Atlanta has until June 29th to decide on Kuminga's option
They could either pick up his $24 million team-option, and give him a full season with the squad before making a crucial long-term decision, but that's a lot of money. If Atlanta has any interest in acquiring a big-name player this offseason outside of their own, accepting Kuminga's option could restrict them in their possibilities.
He brings plenty of upside, and probably deserves a full year before a decision is made, but General Manager Onsi Saleh is known to make difficult decisions with confidence. If he's not a part of his long-term vision, he'll likely be out the door.
There's plenty of avenues the Hawks could take this offseason, as it's clear they need to improve. Now that the summer has officially begun and teams can start talking to their own free agents, action could begin very shortly.
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