New CJ McCollum Rumors on Projected Contract In NBA Free Agency, Potential Hawks Return
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum "likely will have other suitors" as he hits unrestricted free agency following his team's first-round elimination by the New York Knicks, The Athletic's John Hollinger reported Friday.
McCollum, who is turning 35 in September, played this season under a $30.6 million cap hit. He helped lead the Hawks to victory over the Knicks in Games 2 and 3 before his team was eliminated in a historic blowout Thursday night.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported after the Hawks' elimination that "Atlanta's plan is to bring back McCollum."
Retaining McCollum could require giving him a raise heading into next season, according to Hollinger.
"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)," Hollinger reported.
According to Hollinger, McCollum's value might have risen even further amid a reported proposal by the NBA to penalize teams who finish at the bottom of the regular-season standings with worse lottery odds.
The proposal would flatten lottery odds for the fourth-worst through 10th-worst teams while penalizing the bottom three teams, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Incentive to avoid the league's cellar could open up new suitors for McCollum, and those new suitors could have more cap space.
Hollinger reported that "a one-year balloon deal from a struggling cap-room team like the Chicago Bulls or Brooklyn Nets can't be ruled out."
The Hawks acquired McCollum as part of the Trae Young trade with the Washington Wizards in January. He was slotted into the Hawks' starting lineup in February and finished the regular season having averaged 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists through 41 games and 25 starts.
Atlanta is heading into next season with $55.9 million in projected cap space below the first luxury tax apron, per Spotrac.
Whether the franchise uses some of that money to retain McCollum could depend on how high his price climbs should a bidding war against teams with even more cap space take place this offseason.
