Hawks agree – The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to acquire wing Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder and also signed guard C.J. McCollum to a one-year, $21 million deal, setting up a busy night with two first-round picks on the NBA draft’s doorstep.
By the time the Hawks were turning their attention to Tuesday night’s NBA draft, they already had the perimeter part of their offseason picture taking shape.
Atlanta has agreed to acquire wing Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder. a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by ESPN, has not been announced. In return, the Thunder will receive second-round draft picks in 2030 and 2032.
Wiggins, 27, is joining Atlanta after a five-year stint with Oklahoma City, a run that included the Thunder’s 2025 NBA championship. Last season, he averaged 9.4 points and 3.1 rebounds. He started 21 of 65 games and averaged 12 points during the 2024-25 season.
Atlanta’s news didn’t stop with Wiggins. The Hawks also gave guard C.J. McCollum a one-year, $21 million deal, bringing him back after an impactful first stretch with the team last season.
“We’re really excited to have C.J. back,” president of basketball operations and general manager Onsi Saleh said Monday. “You guys saw what he did last season when he came in. He’s been an ultimate professional veteran for our team. The guy can hoop, just an amazing basketball player. So we’re super excited to have C.J. back here and bring that continuity together.”.
The Hawks have two first-round picks in the NBA draft on Tuesday night, and adding Wiggins alongside McCollum tightens their focus on the wings and guard play as they head into the selection process.
McCollum arrived in Atlanta as part of a January trade that sent four-time All-Star Trae Young to the Washington Wizards and brought in McCollum alongside Corey Kispert. The 6-foot-3 point guard quickly worked his way into the Hawks’ starting lineup, replacing 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher.
McCollum, who is 34, added veteran presence to a starting five that included first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson, 2026 NBA Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu. In 41 regular-season games with Atlanta, he averaged 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
His postseason run ended up part of the team’s most memorable storyline: McCollum helped the Hawks to two wins in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the eventual champion New York Knicks — a feat no other team managed in the postseason.
Saleh said he feels confident about the draft picks the Hawks will use, specifically Nos. 8 and 23.
“We’re really excited about adding a couple of guys and seeing how the process goes,” Saleh said. “We’ve said this before, no skipping steps. We want to grow this thing out organically. and I just feel like we’re going to add two really good players tomorrow in the draft. and we have a lot of opportunities moving forward with this group.”.
For Wiggins, the move is another step after helping win a title with Oklahoma City. For McCollum, it’s a return that puts a proven veteran in place again as Atlanta plans its next roster chapter, with the draft beginning Tuesday night.
Atlanta Hawks Aaron Wiggins Oklahoma City Thunder C.J. McCollum NBA draft Onsi Saleh Nickeil Alexander-Walker Jalen Johnson Dyson Daniels Onyeka Okongwu
Wiggins to the Hawks? Didn’t even know he was getting moved.
So they traded for Wiggins and also signed CJ again… sounds like they’re just buying good players right before the draft. Is this gonna mess up their cap or nah?
Wait, I thought OKC already had enough wings. Why would they give him up for 2030 and 2032 second rounders like that’s not way too far out? Also McCollum deal is 21 mil for 1 year… seems kinda wild for a “continuity” thing.
This is why I hate the NBA offseason, everybody’s “agreeing” and “a person told AP” like just say it already lol. Wiggins averaged like 9 points last season right? I feel like they could’ve drafted a better wing instead of paying 1 year to McCollum too. But what do I know, I guess they’re stacking for the draft.