While the Hawks aren’t actively looking to trade John Collins, they’ve reportedly shown a willingness to listen to offers. And, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Atlanta has sought “a high first-round, lottery-level” draft pick in any deal for Collins.
Collins, 23, has been one of the Hawks’ most impactful players this season, averaging 18.1 PPG and 7.8 RPG on .543/.391/.853 shooting in 26 games (31.8 MPG). The club has a +2.8 net rating when he’s on the court, compared to -7.9 when he sits, per NBA.com.
However, Collins’ looming restricted free agency complicates his value. Although he’s earning just $4.14MM this season, he’ll receive a huge raise – perhaps even all the way up to the maximum salary – when he signs his next contract, which will begin in 2021/22. Any team interested in acquiring Collins would have to be prepared to commit major money to him later this year.
It will also be a challenge for the Hawks to acquire an impact player in return for Collins, since most players of that caliber have cap hits far higher than his $4.14MM figure. The team could attach Collins to Tony Snell‘s $12.18MM expiring contract, but would still need to add more salary to land a player earning more than about $21MM.
If the main asset Atlanta receives for Collins is a draft pick, salary-matching would be far less of a concern, so Charania’s report makes some sense. But the Hawks badly want to make the postseason this year and will likely be reluctant to trade their second-leading scorer for a future pick unless they fall out of the playoff hunt.
It’s also tricky to identify many teams who would move a lottery-level pick for a player who could theoretically potentially be poached from Atlanta in free agency this summer with an aggressive, max-level offer sheet.
If the Hawks haven’t moved Collins by the offseason, they could face a difficult decision on whether to match an offer that exceeds what they’re comfortable paying him — while they’ll have the ability to match any offer sheet, they reportedly offered him only $90MM-ish over four years prior to the season. A four-year offer sheet this summer projects to be worth more than $120MM.
For what it’s worth, I’d be shocked if the Hawks hang onto Collins through 2020/21 and then let him walk for nothing. Even if he’s not in their long-term plans, it would make sense for the team to match an offer sheet and bet that he can be traded down the road for positive value.
Good Luck with getting that lottery pick
Possibly could be worth it….if he wasn’t wanting a max deal after getting him.
If AD goes out for an extended period, the Lakers might reach out. Maybe a second and ???? can get it done.
Teams should be banned helping out anyone associated with LBJ. Teams should be tired of his constant winning.
Are you on meth? Yeah they really wanna give away their second best player who is 23 for a second rounder. Delete your account.
Yes they want a lottery pick for him so a second rounder will do the trick….we need higher standards for reading comprehension in this mass of land
The title and article states that they’re looking for a high 1st rounder, and you have them accepting a trade for a low 2nd rounder and ‘????’. I don’t think you’ve fully thought this through.
Atlanta doesn’t want to overpay a young player, because why?
What’s the alternative? Throw $20 million a year at an older free agent like Danillo Gallinari?
Gallo to ATL was a signing I didn’t get then, and I don’t get now, unless you’re trying to motivate Collins. But if that’s the game and Collins performs, you have to pay him.
Maybe ATL is willing to pay him max dollars and wants to see if a team like the Kings want to step up and overpay in a trade, but that doesn’t communicate loyalty to your players and the rest of the league.
Signing Gallo is the preparation to trade Collins
Gallo is free, no assets needed
The only playoffs team has asset to trade for Collins is Warriors, likely 4-7th pick
Hawks would take Wolves pick than anything available
Hawks would have to offer a piece to help Oubre to Join Knicks, Wiggins need to be traded in summer
Lottery team Rockets have 2021 pick to offer. Likely 7-10th pick
Agree with you. If Atlanta has to pay a little more to retain Collins it will be money well spent. If Atlanta can sign Collins to an extension in the range of $100 to $110 million over four years, IMO Atlanta will have done well. Maybe even more. Almost impossible to find a very young big man who is mobile, physical and talented. Atlanta hit the jackpot when drafting Collins with the 19th pick in the 2017 draft. Don’t blow it now.
They should keep Collins and unload Gallinari. He’s injury prone and getting old anyways. Might be able to get off him.
You don’t trade players who have no value to improve the future
Ex
Wolves don’t trade Rubio who has no value
Some team might take him thinking he can be a stretch four but he makes no sense with Atlanta. Won’t get much for him. Maybe an expiring contract. They just need to get off the contract.
Houston should be talking to Atlanta about acquiring Collins. I would love to see him in a Rockets uniform.
Doubt Fertita would pony up a max deal this summer, he is the cheapest owner in the league
Wood & Collins??? Could it work???
They spent all this money on FAs this year, probably in anticipation of not being able to resign their own players to large deals and get FAs. Both deals so far are dumpster fires. That being said. They should 100% be able to get a lottery pick for John Collins. If that’s really all they are seeking.
What team should be looking at this? OKC with Houston/Miami’s’s pick sitting at #7.
But there’s no guarantee that any of these picks remain in the lottery.
Either you intend to offer him a max of 158M or you’re willing to match any offer out there. Or you can find a middle ground between 90 and 158M that he’d accept.
They’d be able to resign Collins. He’s a restricted FA at the end of the year. Signing Dino was not the wise move. Not sure what they were thinking.
Teams always do that. They draft all these young guys and then get some cap room and blow their load by overpaying a bunch of vets who play the same position as their young guys.
If Minny gets their pick this season & it lands #3 there is no way I’m trading it for Collins. A high lottery pick…
Not allowed to trade 2021 pick again
I’d would trade Edwards for Collins
Trade idea
Wolves get Snell, Collins and Hawks 2021 top 8 protected First
Hawks get Edwards, Culver
Via third team would be better
That is terrible. lol. Wolves made a huge mistake thinking they can build around Towns and Russell. I would move them before Edwards but they’re pretty screwed anyways.
Minnesota can draft the pick & then trade it on draft day. I wasn’t thinking of Collins as a TD or bust guy. Especially with an asking price like that?
This offseason should be live with trades, and thats when I expect significant moves.
Drummond, and a few others are what I expect the TD to be. The waiver wire might be more eventful than the TD, is my guess.
The way the Hawks are playing they should get their own lottery pick. Not like they need another young guy on this team anyways. They need someone who can coach and defend in the fourth quarter.
Hawks should dump Gallinari and Bogdonovich. Both were dumb signings anyways. Might be able to get out of the mistake if they trade them soon.
Maybe the jazz trade for Collins…
Collins is trash
Mavs need collins.
All winning teams and Mavs have no assets to offer
IMO
Kings would be favorite
Halliburton has more value than Collins
get on the phone Danny Ainge and get this done!! He is the right age to grow and develop alongside Tatum and Brown!
Celtics would have to pay $62 million luxury tax next season if signing Collins max
With Collins max, 76ers only need to pay $12 million tax if let Danny Green and Scott walk for nothing
Celtics would definitely dump Kemba if they do this.
Kevon and the minny pick for Collins and a future 2nd. Collins is still 23 and could develop alongside Wiggins and Wiseman while also giving Steph/Klay/Dray a legit weapon to make the next 2-3 years more interesting
Few teams would make offers
Exclude
1 current winning teams
2 Teams don’t overpay player like Collins
Rockets, Pelicans, Bulls
3 The bad teams don’t plan to pay tax
Wolves, Cavs,
The Hawks signed Galo and Bogi to open the lane to allow Young to penetrate and dish.. Both have been great 3 point guys. Injuries have hit which has not allowed them to mesh. Collins has become a good 3 pointer but Capella has lessened his pick and roll usage. I think it is to early to criticize the signings. Once everyone is relatively healthy, then it will be up to the coaching staff to make it work. Collins is a valuable piece if used properly. Not sure if coaching staff can make it work?
Seems like a perfect fit for Celtics. Besides brown and Tatum. They should explore all options on this guy.
I believe Collins is underrated . Boston should try to get him or GS and even Miami . I would not mind him joining the knicks but would like to give topkins a chance
Hawks don’t accept any pick outside of Lottery
Hawks prefer top 8 pick
6 teams can help Celtics by offering pick to Hawks
Thunder
Warriors
Pelicans
Rockets
Cavs
Magic
Very tough though
Cheap offer never works
Of course; that’s what they should seek. But they won’t get it (if they’re talking about a pick that projects to be a lottery pick). Teams don’t really trade their projected lottery picks. Bad teams rarely even trade remote unprotected picks. Good teams, that don’t figure to be in the lottery, trade unprotected picks, and they can theoretically wind up being lottery picks. That’s the best they’ll do.
John Collins is an all star leveled player
If I am the Bulls, I would gladly trade the first round pick even if it is unprotected for Collins. This is assuming that Collins would agree to say a four year extension with the Bulls. Collins is most likely far better than anything that the Bulls can draft in the first round. Collins is only 23 years old and already as seasoned veteran. The Bulls interior game is non existent.