Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Sources also say the Hawks are likely to re-sign C.J. McCollum, allowing them to bring a young guard along slowly while also giving him opportunities to run the second unit. Flemings’ ability to pressure the rim with his speed would fit wonderfully with Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga and other high-level athletes on the Hawks’ roster. Atlanta could use a downhill, athletic guard next to McCollum, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Much like many of the guards, Flemings is seen as unlikely to fall outside the top 10.
When the Washington Wizards acquired Trae Young for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, they effectively did their free agency shopping early, viewing Young as the most valuable free agent on the market, HoopsHype has learned. Young is excited for a fresh start with the Wizards and to begin the prime of his career in Washington. According to a league source who spoke with HoopsHype, Young hopes to remain a Wizard for a long time. While Young has a $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 season, the four-time All-Star and the Wizards can come together on a new deal, which is the ultimate expectation within league circles.
As previously reported by HoopsHype, Atlanta wants to re-sign McCollum in free agency. Currently, McCollum is projected to re-sign with the Hawks for an average annual salary around $20 million, HoopsHype has learned.
Atlanta hopes to retain CJ McCollum, league sources told HoopsHype. Meanwhile, the Hawks are figuring out what to do with their $24.3 million team option decision on Jonathan Kuminga and whether to retain him or gauge the trade market on him. More on that later in this story. For now, the chances of the Hawks being considered a real player in the sweepstakes for Reaves are considered low.
The Hawks certainly could stand to benefit from selecting a guard. While league sources maintain that Atlanta remains hopeful about its chances of re-signing veteran CJ McCollum in free agency after his standout postseason, sources say that the Hawks are interested in coming away with another downhill ballhandler to complement Jalen Johnson over a longer term.
Advertisement
Jusuf Nurkic: The bubble was the hardest and the best experience in the world, probably the best basketball ever played — it was just basketball, food, and sleep. We got tested every day, and Carmelo figured out that if he didn’t take the test, he had 24 hours free. We would all be practicing, and then wonder how he got a day off while we were working. He wouldn’t show up for testing and would get a day off. It was like elementary school, they would take you by the hand to go get tested. We would come back from practice and he would already be waiting by the bus to be the first to take the test. The coaches were thinking about how he would fit in, but it was really great with Carmelo. We all hung out off the court, we were together more than with our families, especially a few of us. I remember talking with Dame, McCollum, and myself about how much we missed OG Anunoby from New York…”
Wizards Film Room: Michael Winger and @ryenarussillo talking about CJ McCollum: Russillo: “If you don’t trade him, I don’t think you end up with the #1 pick.” Winger: “No comment.” ????
At the end of Game 3, Hart was taken off McCollum and the Knicks were outlasted down the stretch. He wasn’t happy. “I cursed out one of our defensive [coaches] for taking me off him at the end of Game 3,” Hart said. Concerned about a similar move in Game 4, Hart marched into the coaches room at halftime — with the Knicks up by 14 — and preemptively struck. “I said, ‘I’m on him. Don’t take me off him. I’m guarding him,’ ” Hart said. “And that was the challenge I wanted.” The coaching staff obliged. And for the rest of the first-round series — which the Knicks clinched Thursday night in Atlanta — McCollum vanished under Hart’s physical presence.
In the last three games — with Hart as the main defender — McCollum averaged 11.3 points on 39.5 percent shooting and 10 percent on 3s, collecting way more turnovers (3.3 per game) than assists (1.3). Broken down further, McCollum, in Games 5 & 6, shot just 2-for-9 with four total points when Hart was the closest defender.
Advertisement
Yet I've received no indication to this point that the Hawks have designs on pursuing Antetokounmpo via trade this summer. Sources say that Atlanta is not eager to splurge for major roster additions, preferring to focus on internal improvement and addressing the futures of CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga along with coach Quin Snyder (who has only one season left on his current contract).
Brad Rowland: CJ McCollum got asked if he talked to Quin and Onsi about his Hawks future. He smiled big and said “The season just ended, my boy.” Added that he hadn’t met with Quin yet but had a “productive conversation” with the front office guys.
CJ McCollum, PG (free agent): 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). 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.
For the game, the Knicks held the Hawks to 37.8 percent shooting from the field and 25.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. They recorded an absurd 16 steals along with six blocks. “We were able to get stops, run in transition, get layups,” Jalen Brunson said. “It really came down to our defense. It allowed us to play fast. Allowed us to play in transition. And we made shots. “Most importantly, it shows us what we’re capable of defensively. I think that’s really important.” Josh Hart, who was questionable for the game with a back injury, once again guarded CJ McCollum and completely neutralized him. McCollum was just 1-for-5 from the field when Hart guarded him, per the league’s official tracking stats. In total, McCollum finished with just 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting from the field.
