News spread throughout the league, breaking the internet, when it was announced that the Atlanta Hawks had traded all-star Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for former all-star CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert on January 7th. What’s even more surprising is that Washington was Young’s preferred destination, which generally means he’ll have more leverage and freedom to do what he pleases when he’s on the court.
On the flip side, it’s a win for the Hawks as well. They have a veteran offensive talent who can create his own shots and catch fire at ease. CJ McCollum is a valuable asset and will certainly play a key role in the Hawks’ success if he’s able to stay healthy. With that being said, what would the potential starting lineup look like?
McCollum could be the energizer off the bench
It’s quite possible McCollum could end up coming off the bench to play a sixth man role. The Hawks already solidified Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson’s positions as the team's rising stars, so they won’t be retreating to the bench anytime soon. The center position tends to fluctuate between former all-star Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu due to injuries.
That leads to Nickel Alexander-Walker and Zaccharie Risacher. Nickel is having the best season of his career, averaging 20.4 points per game. He has thrived with his newfound team with and without Trae Young’s presence on the court, playing around 33 minutes each game. It would be beneficial to reward him with a permanent starter spot, pairing him up with defensive specialist Dyson Daniels.
MORE: Dyson Daniels could receive a big role from the Atlanta Hawks
The only logical switch would be with Zaccharie Risacher, who’s been struggling with inconsistencies all season. Only averaging 11.4 points per game, it’d make sense if the Hawks decide to move him to the bench in place of CJ McCollum, possibly moving Daniels or Nickel to the small forward position.
However, that’s unlikely as of now since McCollum is currently getting accustomed to the organization and will likely come off the bench. Either way, this is a great pickup for an Atlanta Hawks team that wants to compete in the playoffs.
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