The Brooklyn Nets are gearing up for what could be a franchise-defining offseason. After a tough 20-62 season, the team is focused on rebuilding—but with plenty of young talent and a high draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on the horizon, they might also be looking to add some veteran firepower.
Enter CJ McCollum. The Atlanta Hawks guard is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and according to The Athletic's John Hollinger, the Nets could be a surprising suitor. "An unrestricted free agent, he likely will have other suitors who value his scoring, although perhaps not as a starter," Hollinger wrote. While McCollum is at least five years older than every player on Brooklyn's current roster, he proved in this year's playoffs that he can still light up the scoreboard—averaging 19.2 points per game in Atlanta's first-round series loss to the New York Knicks.
So, what would a deal look like? Hollinger polled several executives, and the consensus is that McCollum could command a contract worth slightly above the midlevel exception—think two years and $35 million to $40 million. But here's where it gets interesting for Brooklyn: "With tanking now verboten, a one-year balloon deal from a struggling cap-room team like the Chicago Bulls or Brooklyn Nets can't be ruled out," Hollinger added.
McCollum's numbers speak for themselves. During the regular season, he averaged 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, shooting 45.5% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. In the playoffs, he upped his scoring to 19.2 points per contest, while shooting 46.5% from the floor.
For the Nets, this could be a perfect fit. Brooklyn finished the season dead last in offensive rating (30th out of 30 teams), and adding an experienced scorer like McCollum—alongside sharpshooting forward Michael Porter Jr.—could provide a much-needed offensive boost. With the potential to create about $45 million in cap space this summer, the Nets have the financial flexibility to make a competitive offer. Whether McCollum is the missing piece for a young, rebuilding squad remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Brooklyn is ready to spend.