After they finished last season by winning 20 of their final 26 games, CJ McCollum is eager to see what the Hawks can accomplish in 2026/27, writes Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription required). McCollum played an important role in that late-season success, averaging 18.7 points and 4.1 assists in 41 games after being acquired from Washington in January. He expects the team to be even better after having time to build chemistry.
“I’m just excited to be able to have a full training camp,” he said. “Like I was traded in the middle of the season, so I’m excited about that. Excited about the growth and the potential that a lot of the young guys have, and the experiences that we were able to have this last season competing for a playoff spot, making the playoffs, and then playing against a really good team.”
Atlanta met New York in the first round and took a 2-1 series lead before the Knicks launched a historic 13-game winning streak on their way to the NBA title. McCollum believes the Hawks will eventually benefit from facing such a powerful playoff opponent.
“It teaches you how to be better and make moments,” he said. “It teaches you how to execute. Also teaches you how to prepare. So I’m really just excited about the opportunity to have some more growth moments together as a team.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Malik Reneau scored 19 points Saturday in 18 minutes off the bench to help the Magic defeat Boston and finish with a 4-1 record in the Las Vegas Summer League, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (subscription required). The 6’9″ forward, who agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Orlando following last month’s draft, was one of several players to see increased minutes as the Magic rested four rotation members. “I liked our aggressiveness,” Reneau said. “The way we came out on that defensive end, we got some stops and (were) able to run out and get some easy baskets in transition.”
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis calls AJ Dybantsa a “next-generation prototype,” and his arrival has created a level of optimism in Washington that hasn’t been felt for a long time, observes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Teaming Dybantsa with Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who were acquired in trades last season, along with a solid core of young prospects, might make the Wizards a factor in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Young said the team will be holding workouts in Los Angeles this summer, and Dybantsa is eager to learn from his veteran teammates. “When you’re playing with a guy of that stature, I’ll definitely get easy shots from him if nothing else,” Dybantsa said of Young. “[AD] was the No. 1 pick many years back, so he’s been through a lot of the stuff that I’ve got to go through.”
- The Wizards don’t fit the profile of what LeBron James was looking for in free agency, but Davis revealed that he had “conversations” with his former Lakers teammate about coming to Washington (Twitter video link from Chase Coburn).
Wow if reports are true the Hawks gave up on Risacher pretty quick