BRANDON - HAWKS HOMECOURT 🏀📺@Hawks_HomeCourt
“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 Atlanta Hawks have several key items looming, including free agency for CJ McCollum and Jock Landale, Jonathan Kuminga’s team option decision, and how they’ll navigate the NBA Draft with the No. 8 and 23 picks in the first round.
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.
In addition, the Hawks hope to retain center Landale in free agency. Landale spent this past season with the Memphis Grizzlies and Hawks, averaging career-highs in points (10.6), rebounds (5.7), and minutes (22.1), while shooting an efficient 51.5 percent from the field and 38.3 percent beyond the arc. Numerous teams are expected to express interest in the 30-year-old center.
Furthermore, Atlanta has a $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 season on Kuminga, who scored 40 combined points in two Hawks wins against the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks have conducted their due diligence and gauged Kuminga’s value on the trade market ahead of the draft, league sources told HoopsHype. With that said, the 23-year-old forward returning to the Hawks next season remains a real possibility.
Speaking of the draft, NBA executives who’ve spoken with HoopsHype project the Hawks to select either a point guard, with one of Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff, and Kingston Flemings expected to be available, or Michigan 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara with the No. 8 pick, as previously noted.
Lastly, the Hawks have explored the possibility of moving up from their No. 23 pick in the draft, league sources told HoopsHype.”