CJ McCollum Wants to Finish with Hawks

CJ McCollum is openly eyeing a finish to his career with the Atlanta Hawks, a team that transformed from playoff also-rans to a surprise contender after his January return — going 29-15 to clinch a postseason berth. Though they fell early to the Knicks, McCollum delivered clutch performances, averaging 20+ points in the playoffs and embodying the veteran leadership the Hawks desperately need alongside Trae Young. His role isn’t as a scorer, but as a stabilizing force to mentor young talent — and Atlanta’s playoff push proves he’s the right fit for a team building identity. But here’s the catch: McCollum’s $30M+ salary demands a pay cut to stay, forcing the Hawks to make tough roster decisions — potentially trading young players to create space. If Atlanta’s serious about becoming a true contender, locking McCollum down is non-negotiable — even if it means reshaping the roster from the ground up. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f5155091ea064303