The Atlanta Hawks are in a tough situation as a franchise. They tore down a team that racked up lots of wins to rebuild through the draft. While the process is still young, being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference still hurts, nonetheless.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (subscription required), there are multiple teams ‘monitoring’ and ‘feeling out’ the Hawks’ asking price for Collins. The team has also been in need of a more natural center but that isn’t connected with the update about Collins.
Conversely, several teams are monitoring Hawks big man John Collins and feeling out Atlanta’s asking price, sources said. Collins has so far been part of the Hawks’ young core along with All-Star guard Trae Young. But the Hawks’ need for a more natural center is known, and they have expressed interest in Capela, Sacramento’s Dewayne Dedmon and Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams, too.
It wouldn’t outlandish to believe the Hawks were interested in trading Collins. A league source told NBA Analysis Network that the Hawks offered Collins and draft compensation to the Indiana Pacers for Domantas Sabonis before he signed a four-year, $77 million contract extension, but it was rejected.
After serving a 25-game suspension without pay due to a violation of the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program, Collins has managed to average 19.3 points and 10.2 rebounds through 24 performances. Those numbers are certainly solid but there’s more to the situation than that.
Here are two huge reasons the Hawks should look to trade John Collins:
