Dyson Daniels and CJ McCollum couldn’t look much more different if they were built in opposite labs, but that contrast is exactly why the Hawks got so much out of them last season.
McCollum brings the shot-making, the handle, and the kind of offensive polish that bends a defense. Daniels is the bigger, stronger presence, the one whose value comes from his defensive playmaking and all-around impact. Put them together, and the fit worked far better than anyone could have asked for.
That wasn’t just a nice on-court partnership. It was one of the NBA’s most effective two-man combinations.
Among qualifying duos that logged at least 500 minutes, Daniels and McCollum finished eighth in the league with a +14.0 net rating. That puts them in some pretty wild company.
Three of the seven groups ahead of them included Victor Wembanyama and another Spur. Another three featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and another Thunder player.
The only other duo ahead of them was Boston’s Derrick White and Hugo Gonzalez, who led the league at +17.3.
What makes the Hawks pair stand out is that their success didn’t come from matching strengths the way White and Gonzalez did. It came from covering for each other.
Quin Snyder’s answer was simple: make sure each man is always next to the piece that solves his biggest problem. Daniels, who struggled to shoot the long ball all year, was paired with a true floor-spacer. McCollum, whose defensive shortcomings can show up when he’s isolated, had Daniels beside him to clean things up on that end.
That setup gave Atlanta a way to keep winning possessions on both sides of the floor, and it worked repeatedly throughout the season.
McCollum may not be in the long-term picture, but if this ends up being the final run for this backcourt tandem, it should still be a fun one to watch.
In Other News...
Hawks Could Solve A Backcourt Problem In One Proposed Deal
Jonathan Kuminga is still on the market after Atlanta declined his team option, and that alone has kept his name tied to a few different roster discussions around the league. The Hawks, Kings and Blazers have all come up in speculative trade frameworks that would reshape each team in different ways, with the idea of a sign-and-trade giving Atlanta another route to adjust its backcourt and keep flexibility in how it builds around the roster.
One of the more interesting angles is how a deal like that could address an obvious need without forcing the Hawks into a full reset. Atlanta has been exploring ways to balance immediate help with long-term movement, and Kuminga's unsettled status leaves the door open for that kind of maneuvering. For now, though, it remains exactly that - a proposal, not a finished transaction - which means the real answer still depends on whether the teams involved are willing to turn the speculation into something official. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Just Set Up A Bigger Jalen Johnson Decision
Atlantas latest front-office move is as much about the future as the present. Jock Landale is coming in on a one-year deal to give the Hawks some depth behind their bigs, but the signing also fits neatly into the teams larger plan of keeping its books movable. For a roster trying to stay competitive while building around Jalen Johnson, that kind of flexibility matters just as much as immediate production.
Landale is expected to provide minutes, size and a veteran presence while helping younger players along, but the real value may come later. The Hawks continue to operate with an eye on the trade deadline, where an expiring deal can become useful currency if the right star becomes available. In other words, this is another sign that Atlanta is still searching for the best way to put a true co-star next to Johnson. [Read more 🡒]
Lu Dort Gives Hawks A Closing Lineup Fans Will Want To See
The Hawks have given Quin Snyder another late-game defensive lever in Lu Dort, and that alone changes the conversation around how Atlanta can finish games. Dorts arrival adds to a group that already includes Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, giving Snyder more ways to build a closing five that can pressure the ball, switch across positions and protect the rim without sacrificing too much size.
What makes this especially interesting is the flexibility it creates from game to game. Some matchups may call for a heavier dose of perimeter defense, while others could push Atlanta toward a group that keeps more creation on the floor, and Dorts versatility helps bridge that gap. The trade-off is obvious enough, but so is the appeal: the Hawks now have enough defensive pieces that the best closing lineup may depend less on who is available and more on which version Snyder wants to put in front of an opponent. [Read more 🡒]