The 2025-26 season for the Hawks is now in the books, and now focus turns to the status of the upcoming free agents and a head coach who is entering the final year of his contract.
Among the free agents is veteran scoring guard CJ McCollum who will turn 35 this offseason. His play down the stretch helped the Hawks earn the 6-seed and take two games off the Knicks in clutch fashion.
But at his age, the Hawks must be disciplined in what they offer for him to return to the team to protect against age-related
downside of a longer term deal.
Marc Stein and Jake L. Fischer offer some insider notes from their last two posts (dated April 30 and May 2) on their substack blog, the Stein Line. From April 30, Fischer writes:
Newly acquired CJ McCollum, who arrived in the Young deal in early January on an expiring contract, will also be seeking a new pact after emerging as the reshaped Hawks’ veteran leader during their second-half surge. I’m told Atlanta’s plan is to bring back McCollum as well.
Jonathan Kuminga was another revelation for the Hawks in the second half of this season. Although his play from game to game was inconsistent at best, his highs showcased a two-way athleticism that the Hawks lacked at times. Kuminga has a team option worth $24.3 million that the Hawks will have to decide whether to pick up before the start of the new season (June 29).
Giannis Antetokounmpo was frequently linked to the Hawks in trade rumors this past season, partially due to the Hawks ownership of Bucks draft assets in the next two seasons. But Fischer reported on May 2 that he has received, “no indication to this point that the Hawks have designs on pursuing Antetokounmpo.”
As it relates to the re-signing of CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga, Fischer continued:
Sources say that Atlanta is not eager to splurge for major roster additions, preferring to focus on internal improvement and addressing the futures of CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga along with coach Quin Snyder (who has only one season left on his current contract).
My early read is that Atlanta’s disastrous Game 6 home loss to the Knicks, which stunningly saw the Hawks fall behind 72-22, is unlikely to change Atlanta’s approach. I spent quite a bit of time around the Hawks during the New York series and came away with the distinct impression that team officials are encouraged by Atlanta’s second-half improvement and buoyed by the measured approach they feel they took in revamping the roster by trading away former All-Stars Young and Kristaps Porziņģis in January and February.
Quin Snyder signed a 4-plus-year contract back in February of 2022, and with the Hawks owners of the last two Most Improved Players, winning 46 games, and returning to the playoffs after a two-season absence, the coach could be in high demand around the NBA.
Of course, with the disappointment of getting blown out to the New York Knicks fresh on everyone’s minds, the question must be asked: should the Hawks extend his contract?
First, on April 30, Fischer reported this:
Of prime importance for Atlanta win or lose:
Addressing the future of coach Quin Snyder, whose contract has only one season remaining after this one.
Snyder, remember, was one of five NBA head coaches under contract that the Knicks unsuccessfully requested permission to speak to last June after the dismissal of Tom Thibodeau along with Dallas’ Jason Kidd, Houston’s Ime Udoka, Minnesota’s Chris Finch and then-Chicago coach Billy Donovan. Snyder did not receive an extension in the immediate aftermath of New York’s approach like Udoka, Donovan and ultimately Kidd, but extension talks are mostly certainly expected soon after this season … whether or not Atlanta can keep it going Thursday night.
The Hawks were one of this season’s true surprise teams and league source say there is strong front office support for Snyder to receive a new deal.
Do you think the Hawks should re-sign CJ McCollum? Should they pick up Kuminga’s option or focus on a long-term deal? And should the Hawks move on from Snyder or hand him a contract extension?
Please let me know in the comments below.
