Hawks general manager Onsi Salah was a long-time admirer of CJ McCollum and was happy to acquire him in the January deal that sent Trae Young to Washington, but Salah admits to Howard Beck of The Ringer that he had no idea McCollum would emerge as a playoff force. The veteran guard is the main reason that Atlanta holds a 2-1 lead over New York, averaging 27 points per game in the series and hitting a game-winning jumper late in Game 3.
“I’m not surprised with his confidence and his ability to do what he’s doing,” Saleh said. “I just didn’t expect the efficiency — like, everything has been so good, and he’s just taken over the series, and in such a dramatic way. It eases the pressure on some of our guys. It helps us understand how to win playoff games, which is a skill. He understands tempo and pace and mismatches and who to go at, who not to go at, clock situations, all that stuff he’s been phenomenal with.”
Beck notes that it didn’t feel like a major trade when it happened, as the Hawks were trying to find a new home for Young so they could retool around their young core. Young’s salary and injury status limited the interest around the league, so getting McCollum and Corey Kispert in return seemed like a deal of convenience.
But McCollum sparked a second half surge as Atlanta went 27-15 after the trade and posted the seventh-best point differential in the league. The new starting lineup of McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu had the NBA’s second-highest net rating at +21.4 (minimum of 600 possessions).
“It was funny when the narratives came out at the time,” Saleh said. “Because people just thought we’re just salary dumping, which wasn’t the case at all. We wanted CJ. We wanted Corey. These are two guys that fit. … It’s worked out even better than I would have expected.”
There’s more from Atlanta:
- McCollum believes Jonathan Kuminga has benefited from the February trade that sent him from Golden State to Atlanta, per Nick Avila of NBC Sports Bay Area. Kuminga’s statistics with the two teams were similar during the regular season, but his playing time has increased to 31 minutes per night since the playoffs began. “He was in a not so great situation and now he’s found a happy home over here,” McCollum said after Game 3.
- The Hawks were expecting Young and Kristaps Porzingis to lift them out of play-in territory when they acquired the big man from Boston last summer, but the season didn’t turn around until they were both traded away, notes John Hollinger of The Athletic. Young and Porzingis only played three games and 51 total minutes together in Atlanta, but their replacements have made the Hawks a dangerous playoff opponent.
- In a session with reporters prior to Saturday’s Game 4, coach Quin Snyder said Alexander-Walker is a deserving winner of Most Improved Player honors, tweets Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks. “He’s just thrown himself in consistently to the work,” Snyder said. “… We’re lucky to have him.”
Nobody had McCollum and Kuminga leading the Hawks… just like no one had them getting trounced by the Knicks tonight
Well Kuminga had an outstanding game the last one but not so great tonight. 25 minutes, 2 rebounds. He was rebounding so well when he first joined the team and refrained from shooting a lot. But I guess that was just for show?
With total free agency probably available to him this summer, let’s see who bites and will attempt to unlock his vast potential?
Funny. Maybe the trade woke him up. He always wanted to start and be the centerpiece of the offense. Now he is accepting coming off the bench and not having to be the star. It takes time to grow up.
Why do you lie so much. He’s a you g guy who wanted mins. So he could get paid. Which is what all high picks want. Why do you slwasy need to make it like he fid something wrong. He’s gone why do you even care. He is only showing how dumb Warriors sre. And how smart I am. I told you he just needed to get away from this wreck.
Vast? More like tepid.
Athletically it’s vast. I think that’s why the Warriors drafted him in the first place. Fastest guy at the combine and we’ve also seen him jump.
I’ve seen him get out on the break with the Hawks too. The man has a lot of speed.
But I get your point. I’m probably known as the warrior fan who talks trash about Kuminga more than anyone. So I probably stated vast potential to make an effort to move away from such a critical spirit and give the kid a chance.
I’m glad to see this for CJ McCollum. He’s been a sidekick for so many years and not received the fanfare of his other hero teammates over the years.
He’s getting paid well, so you don’t feel too bad, but him stepping up in a playoff series is nice to witness.
Was he a sidekick? Or was he perceived as one?
Because in 2019 (Blazers best result since the championship), he was their best player and it’s not much of a discussion tbh
Yeah, I guess mine was just a general statement regarding the Damian Lillard years.
I think he got short changed in the recognition department. That’s my message. Was I looking to be precisely accurate? I guess not.
Good catch thanks for the correction.
I wasnt correcting you at all, just offering a different perspective
I really like CJ so I might be blinded by that, as they say tbe truth is always somewhere in the middle
I appreciate your openness
You always have good comments so I try to err towards someone else having the more accurate info in a situation like this.
Plus You brought up 2019 and had a pretty good recollection of what happened. I don’t even know where I was in 2019 lol
He was definitely the sidekick to Lillard
I remember seeing a comment from a Hawks fan on another site right after the trade talking about how much they hated McCollum and they were dreading him getting an extension this offseason. I wonder how that person feels now.
Go thru Towns and you will be rewarded …..
Play big Dominicano ….
All the haters hiding now. 🤫🤫🤫🤫
Go thru towns aka inflatable arm waving tube man
I like KAT but this was still spot on.
Where all the haters. Hawks fans see you at
The Mecca. Knicks fans taking over Hawks arena lol ..
Say raz where you at clown. Bulls MJ ever take over Arenas like Knicks do……. Cry me a to er YF🤡.
raz the miserable Bulls fan. Hates his team more than Isiah lols. Has so much hate. He needs to let it out on Knicks. How genius is that.
Come get some lotto expert
Celebrating maybe squeaking past the Atlanta Hawks isn’t as cool as you think is
Especially since Knicks fans were expecting a sweep and they have NBA Finals expectations
Another miserable fan. You and raz should elope lol. You both have enough misery for this whole board.
I never celebrate. I just state the truth. All these geniuses come out. Cause they lose two games by two. Granted they blew it. But the Hawks are nothing. I take it one gm one series at a time . That’s how you enjoy and follow ball. Every series will tell you something. Since you don’t follow Knicks. They do stink it up here and there. But you would think for playoffs they would get it right. Like why can’t they give this effort every gm. Half the clowns here already had them losing to Hawks. I mean if you know ball. You can see both loses were avoidable. I give Hawks credit. They are young. And like I said from beginning. They will push us and get us ready for better comp. Hawks don’t have size. I said from day one go thru Towns. Brown finally listen to me.
Hawks in 6
You the biggest knicks hater I know lmao
Hahah I’m here. I ain’t running. You proud you beat the Hawks to TIE the series that you are supposed to win in 5???? Wtf does Bulls MJ ever over arenas like Knicks do comment mean? Are you drunk? Do you seriously want me to go down and relive your 90s and what MJ did to your precious team? I’ll put you down to bed worse than your caretaker does. Go to bed old man you clearly all talk and a front runner when your team wins.
Also it’s autocorrect enable it when you get a chance after you wake up from your sleep. Most of us can’t understand a damn thing you say because you talk like a gibberish an Abe Simpson.
Gonna call you knickerbockerAbe from now on.
And I promise you I don’t hate any team more than Isiah’s lol. I hate only two teams but the other won a title in 2005, and the other team isn’t even worthy of being discussed until they get to the finals. I cannot wait until they fall flat on their face so I can say happy 53rd anniversary to you personally. I promise you I’ll be here saying that the second they are eliminated. 🤡
I care less about Hawks than you. Knicks do it to themselves. Better this team than next round. I love the game . So I get something from every game. I’m thankful Hawks are pushing Knicks. Hopefully it wakes them up. We play as a team both ways. We can get out the East. But as we all know talk is cheap. All East teams have looked bad. I feel good like I always feel. Dra asked m about you. Needs company for lottery. He said he wants to be with someone whose team drafts wirse than Warriors.
So this gm just publicly said he has no idea what one of his players bring to the table
Honestly, not surprised considering some of the bonehead decisions that are made in the nba
Onsi Saleh knows what he is doing. He hasn’t made any bad decisions. He respects the vets of this league and CJ has been himself and has also proved he wants to win at the highest level after rotting in NOLA and DC.
He has made good decisions, but CJ has always been an efficient player and him being surprised by it sounds very alarming
Knicks have lost two games by two points total. You really can’t see what’s going on can you. It will be over in six now.
“Kuminga’s statistics with the two teams were similar during the regular season, but his playing time has increased to 31 minutes per night since the playoffs began. “He was in a not so great situation and now he’s found a happy home over here,” McCollum said after Game 3.”
For the Wagoneers — you never saw anything in JK. Cause your talent vision is limited. You couldn’t see how your team was holding him back. Development is in the team. Otherwise why would you draft a player. For three yrs I have been telling he just needs to go to another system. And all you did is trash JK for not saving your team. Real fans 🤮🤮
So listen to Hawks best player. A seasoned vet CJ. Warriors are ONE team. Plenty of teams to make your mark on. God forbid he succeeds, right.
I think CJ is pretty limited on defense. That was always my take. NAW and Dyson give him perfect cover.
NAW isn’t any better
I’d play NAW as my sixth man (same amount of minutes recieved as he was a starter)
Does it really matter. CJ is FA. I am sure he will ring chase next yr.