Hawks Considering CJ McCollum; Herro Comes Off Bench in Miami Return; Wizards Cite Players-Only Meeting for Recent Uptick
SLUG: hawks-mccollum-herro-return-wizards-meeting
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ATLANTA — With conversations swirling about what Trae Young could mean for Washington, attention inside the Hawks organization has shifted to the possibility of adding veteran guard CJ McCollum for the remainder of the season, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
McCollum, 34, played in each of Washington’s first 35 games before the calendar flipped, logging averages of 18.8 points, 3.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds in a little more than 30 minutes per night and knocking down nearly 40 percent of his three-point attempts. While he does not match Young’s playmaking numbers, observers note that McCollum offers stronger on-ball defense and produces efficiently on lower usage — qualities seen as complementary to young Hawks scorers Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Herro Returns for Heat
MIAMI — Tyler Herro came back from a toe injury Tuesday and, for the first time in the 2023-24 campaign, entered the game as a reserve. The 24-year-old guard dismissed any concern over the change afterward.
“Just being out there was my biggest thing,” Herro told reporters, per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I felt good. I’m healthy. So I just want to be available and be healthy.” Miami has emphasized availability over role as it eases Herro back into the rotation.
Players-Only Meeting Sparks Wizards
WASHINGTON — After starting the season 1-15, the Wizards have gone 9-11 since and have taken five of their last seven contests. Multiple players told The Athletic that a Nov. 16 players-only meeting helped change the locker-room tone.
“We weren’t meeting that standard at the time,” center Marvin Bagley III said. “That meeting was well-needed. Guys spoke up. We came out closer as a unit.” While still rebuilding, Washington has managed to compete more consistently since the discussion.
Source: Hoops Wire
