The Atlanta Hawks are managing two simultaneous roster decisions – a contract extension for veteran guard CJ McCollum and a No. 8 pick that multiple rival executives now connect to Michigan center Aday Mara. Both decisions carry long-term weight for a franchise in the middle of a careful rebuild around Jalen Johnson. This is not routine offseason noise – it is Atlanta defining what version of itself it wants to become before Tuesday’s draft in Brooklyn.
McCollum Contract Talks Underway
McCollum arrived in Atlanta as part of the Trae Young trade in January, a deal that effectively ended the Hawks‘ heliocentric era. His pull-up shooting and pick-and-roll craft immediately unlocked more space for Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, and his veteran decision-making reduced late-game turnovers. The Trae Young trade reshaped Atlanta’s identity; McCollum’s return would cement it.
The hard deadline is June 30. If no extension is signed, McCollum hits unrestricted free agency. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Tuesday that “Atlanta remains hopeful about its chances” of retaining the veteran guard – a signal the talks are progressing, not stalling.
The Contract Numbers in Play
Multiple league executives expect McCollum to command roughly $35–40 million over two years, essentially non-taxpayer mid-level money on a short-term bridge deal. ESPN’s Bobby Marks has floated a two-year, $43 million framework as a reasonable compromise – steep enough to honor his production, short enough to preserve flexibility.
The cap market context actually favors Atlanta. Because McCollum‘s expiring deal pays him over $30.6 million in 2025–26, most rival suitors are expected to top out around the mid-level exception range rather than pursuing him as a priority signing. That limits the bidding war. The broader NBA contract market dynamics suggest veterans in McCollum’s tier rarely command true max-level competition – giving the Hawks leverage they should use.
“Sources say that the Hawks are interested in coming away with another downhill ballhandler to complement Jalen Johnson over a longer term.”
That sourcing, from Fischer, is significant. It suggests the Hawks view the No. 8 pick as a long-term backcourt investment – not a stopgap – regardless of whether McCollum returns.
Aday Mara at No. 8: A Surprise With a Statistical Case
Bleacher Report analyst Jonathan Wasserman predicted the Hawks would take Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 8, projecting Mara would fall to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 12. But rival executives are now describing Atlanta as a legitimate Mara suitor, and ESPN‘s Jeremy Woo named the Hawks as one of the teams actively in play – alongside the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Thunder.
The physical profile is legitimately elite. Wasserman noted that Mara measured 7’3″ barefoot with a 9’9″ standing reach – “nearly unmatchable advantage-creating physical traits.” The statistical case matches the tape. Mara finished fourth in the nation in box plus-minus at Michigan, posting a 12.0 block percentage alongside a 19.0 assist percentage – a rare combination of rim protection and playmaking. For context on where Mara sits among the full prospect class, the 2026 NBA Draft big board ranks him as a legitimate lottery talent with center-of-future upside.
This is not Atlanta simply kicking tires. Multiple sources converging on the same name – Fischer and Woo from separate outlets – is a credibility signal the Hawks‘ interest is real.
NBA Draft Is Right Around The Corner
The 2026 NBA Draft tips off Tuesday in Brooklyn, with Atlanta‘s No. 8 pick expected to land on either a guard or a center depending on how the board falls. The McCollum extension deadline follows on June 30 – and the draft decision will likely shape how many years and dollars the Hawks are willing to commit to the veteran.
If Atlanta selects Mara, the front office essentially signals it views center depth as the longer-term priority. If the pick goes on a guard, it reinforces that the McCollum deal is viewed as a bridge rather than a foundation. Either way, the Hawks have seven days to define their direction – and the league is watching.
