Something I missed from later in the hoopshype article in this reddit post https://redd.it/1v3ku9p

CJ McCollum: 'It's a great situation for both parties'

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum spoke briefly with HoopsHype after one of the team’s Vegas Summer League games about his return to the franchise, where the Hawks rank in an improved Eastern Conference, and what to expect from Jalen Johnson in his first full season as the team’s unquestioned best player.

Scotto: What are your thoughts on returning to Atlanta?

McCollum: I never made it to free agency. It’s a great situation for both parties. We had good momentum into the playoffs. We didn’t finish the way we wanted, but I think there’s a lot to build on. I love the staff. I love Onsi (Saleh). I love the organization. I love the Resslers. I love Quin (Snyder). I get along really well with the team and the players. There’s a lot of good basketball left for everybody. I’m excited to be back in Atlanta and for the challenge to try to build off what we were able to do last year.

Scotto: Where do you guys rank in the East in a conference that’s improved elsewhere?

McCollum: I don’t compare ourselves to others. Right now, it’s about focusing on getting better individually and collectively. We can’t control how other teams look. You can control your approach to the game. Teams will get better and evolve. For us, it’s about focusing on improving our intangibles, understanding our schemes, and what Quin wants from us. Then, building on the momentum and experience that we had playing in the playoffs in a big environment on the road and in our home games. We played against a team that won the NBA Finals. All those things help you as you go into a new season.

Scotto: What do you expect from Jalen Johnson in his first full year as the face of the franchise?

McCollum: He loves the game and takes it seriously. I think that’s what’s important. When you have those intangibles of habits, work ethic, and appreciating small details and nuances of the game in terms of what time you’re showing up, how you’re taking care of your body, ice tubs, cold tubs, sauna, steam room. When you do all the little things well, the big things show up at 7 and 8 PM. I think he has the right mentality to improve, and he works and takes the game seriously by taking care of his body. I think this will be another great year for him where he can continue to evolve and show a lot of the world what we already know.

There's also an interview with Trae Young a few scrolls up, but not really relevant to us.

I’d have ‘Nique ahead of Dr. J, personally.

This Saturday (7/25, 1–5 PM) the arena’s doing a free Select-A-Seat event in the Player’s Club. You can walk the bowl, sit in different sections, and pick your actual seats for next season before the schedule even drops. There’s kids’ stuff going on too, a back-to-school giveaway item, and Harry the Hawk will be around 3:30–4.

No cost to attend, and no pressure to buy anything — it’s really just a chance to see seats in person and ask questions face to face instead of guessing off a seating chart. If you do want to lock something in, there’s an 8-month payment plan and you can put down a deposit to get in line early before renewals eat up the good sections.

Parking’s in the Diamond Deck.

If anyone wants to come through and needs it set up, drop a comment or shoot me a message and I’ll get you taken care of — happy to just answer questions here too if you’re not ready to commit to anything. Here’s my digital business card : https://popl.co/card/9afVBYcc/2/dash

Go Hawks 🦅

did it? are we sure?

Here is how I view the East. Every team has reasons to doubt.

-Boston 

Their best guys are not healthy track record isn’t great for Achilles tears. 

-Nets

Fun team

-Hornets

They are young but will be bad

-Bulls

They are young and really bad

-Cavs

I don’t believe in the Cavs at all, but they’ll probably still be vey good in the regular season

-Pistons

They are making it really weird with their second best player. 

-Pacers

Hali coming back from an Achilles tear. We will see.

-Heat

High top end talent but are they better than the bucks last year if Giannis misses time?

-Bucks

Bad and young

-Knicks

I don’t expect them to be as good as they were this year Brunson is getting surgery on his wrist like J-Dub did last year

-Magic

New coach we’ll see if the bad offense was on Banchero or on Mosley 

-76ers

I think they will be good with out Embiid and borderline unbeatable with Embiid healthy. 

-Raptors

Probably good, what’s going on with Kawhi?

-Wizards

Just a weird team that doesn’t make sense 

Let's assume we waive and stretch guys to get the roster down. Are the hawks going to be good?

We have like 10 wings, some of whom have the ability to pass and dribble. We have a pretty deep, albeit young, guard rotation. We lack interior size, but more than make up for it with switch ability and positional size everywhere else.

I can see the vision, I just am curious about the short term upside.

Only 19 years, 6 months, and 29 days on this day.

33 pts 11/18 fg 6/10 3pm 7 rebs 3 asts 3 stls 2 blks 0 TOs

Lest we forget. Hawks failed in giving this talent a real chance.

LOOK AT THIS TRIO

https://refwatch.ca/nba/teams/ATL

I know some of us are sad to see Risacher go, I know some of us are glad to see Dort arrive.

Some of us are excited to see the rookies play and get some development, some of us want to see us take a leap and make a serious playoff push.

Regardless of what camps you’re in, we can all agree there are 17 NBA players on this roster but we can only start the season with 15.

Two, possibly 3, or even more of these guys WILL NOT be suiting up in a Hawks jersey by October.

Personally, I am hoping we send Corey Kispert to the literal Shadow Realm.

Realistically, I expect one of Dort or Wiggins to be rerouted somewhere. Dort cannot be aggregated and is making $17M, so my best guess is that Wiggins and someone, possibly one of Devin Carter/Buddy Hield are going out. The dream would be a scenario that results in Peyton Watson being our return via S&T for sending two playable guys into Denver’s empty roster slots, but the finances are tight. We would likely need a 3rd team.

Mo Gueye’s contract being non-guaranteed until 1/1/2027 unfortunately makes him an easily tradable or waivable player (particularly after his unfortunate foot injury)

Onsi is cooking at least one more deal, what do YOU think he has up his sleeve? How would YOU get our roster in compliance?

https://x.com/TheDunkCentral/status/2079347230582919355

I’ll miss u my glorious king 💔😪

Lu Dort to Hawks? Zaccharie Risacher to Mavs? Trade grades for 3-team swap

Feels like every Shams notification is about the Hawks lol

Timberwolves fan coming in peace. Missing NAW and hoping Ant goes to you if he ever leaves us.

Quick questions: Is Okongwu’s shooting real? And what is his trade value? I feel like he’s very underrated so wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a couple 1sts

I actually used to get pretty excited when the raptors would play @ the hawks because I really enjoyed the branding

If you heard Landale tell the story about when he first met Dyson, then you won't automatically pick Dort.