The Atlanta Hawks received CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert from the Washington Wizards for Trae Young last week. Both new players joined the Hawks on their West Coast road trip on Jan. 11 against the Golden State Warriors. Questions surrounded whether McCollum would start at shooting guard for his new squad. Ultimately, Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder brought McCollum off the bench in a sixth-man role across his first two contests. Kispert operated as the eighth/ninth man in the rotation, with Zaccharie Risacher missing the last three games due to left knee inflammation.
Hawks New Additions Settling Into Their New Roles
CJ McCollum’s Important Shotmaking Off The Bench
McCollum has been a consistent high-level scorer since he won the 2015-16 Most Improved Award. He never averaged less than 18.5 points per game after his sophomore season. However, he started every single one of those games, so the sixth-man role is new territory for him. With Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker now taking over the starting backcourt, the Hawks’ guard depth decreases. Atlanta needs McCollum’s shot creation, shotmaking, and steady offensive presence when Alexander-Walker sits.
CJ at the buzzer 🚨 pic.twitter.com/kGHMlJ6f11
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 12, 2026
Through two games with Atlanta, McCollum shoots 16-of-37 from the field. He certainly has not been shy about finding his own shot. The 34-year-old guard scored 25 points on a team-high 23 shots against the Los Angeles Lakers. McCollum carries a shocking 34.5% usage- the highest mark on the team. This number likely takes a steep fall, as Jalen Johnson and Alexander-Walker, Atlanta’s two biggest offensive threats, both have less than a 24.5% usage over the last two games. Nonetheless, McCollum’s aggression has been encouraging on a team that desperately needs an offensive upgrade off the bench.
Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh told reporters how McCollum’s skill set makes the team better. “With CJ, I just think between his ball handling, his shot creation … He’s also somebody that could create for himself, and that was kind of a need for us as well … and his leadership is a big component,” expressed Saleh.
The general manager also hinted at a possible long-term extension with McCollum. The veteran guard’s $30.7 million contract expires after this season, but he could return to the Hawks on a cheaper extension. “He’s somebody that I think could fit here long term as well … but I can’t really say anything about extension talks or negotiations,” commented Saleh.
Corey Kispert’s Role Remains In Flux
Kispert serves as a movement shooter, floor spacer, and off-ball cutter. His constant motion and fast-paced decision-making mesh well with Snyder’s system. He played just 14 minutes against the Warriors for two points but saw his role increase in a 19-point, 26-minute performance in Los Angeles. Luke Kennard missed the Lakers’ game due to a neck strain, which likely increased Kispert’s minutes.
Corey splashes his first basket as a Hawk! pic.twitter.com/VIqlO9B0jS
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 14, 2026
Saleh spoke on Kispert’s fit for the roster. “He could attack closeouts. He’s a hell of a shooter, as we all know, but there’s more to it. He’s a physical player, gets to the rim, athletic player,” said Saleh.
The 26-year-old has played shooting guard and small forward behind Vít Krejčí during Risacher’s absence. Therefore, we have yet to see Sndyer’s plans for Kispert with a healthy roster. Krejčí normally provides lights-out shooting, but over the last five games, he shoots 19.2% from deep on 5.2 attempts. If Risacher remains injured and Krejčí’s struggles continue, Kispert could be in store for an even bigger role than expected in his first few games with Atlanta.
Featured Image: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images