This year’s free agent class could have been filled with superstars. The pool of impact players has been drained, as many of them signed extensions.
There are still some intriguing names that will hit the market this summer and many of them will be restricted free agents. Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, Hamidou Diallo, Gary Trent Jr., Josh Hart and Lauri Markkanen are some of the players who could receive offer sheets.
Three other names stand out on the list of RFAs – John Collins, Lonzo Ball and Jarrett Allen.
It’s rare that a highly productive young big like Collins would reach restricted free agency at this point in his career. Collins, 23, averaged 17.6 PPG and 7.4 RPG on a playoff team and he’s a career 38% shooter from deep.
Yet the Hawks seem lukewarm, at best, on Collins as a long-term partner for franchise player Trae Young. He reportedly turned down a $90MM extension offer, believing he could get a max deal, or something very close to it, in free agency.
Atlanta need only to extend a $7.7MM qualifying offer in order to make him a restricted free agent, giving the team the option of matching an offer sheet.
Collins has the opportunity to enhance his resume with a strong playoff showing. He contributed a ho-hum 12 points and seven rebounds to Atlanta’s Game 1 win on Sunday but counterpart Julius Randle shot just 6-for-23 from the field. Collins’ second postseason game was a disaster, as he went scoreless in 12, foul-filled minutes.
He contributed 14 points and six rebounds in Game 3 on Friday but, more importantly, helped to hold Randle to a 2-for-15 shooting night.
Ball’s qualifying offer is $14.36MM, so New Orleans has a tougher decision to make. Ball has long been rumored to be a primary target for the Bulls, who are seeking a natural point guard.
Ball’s name was bandied about in trade rumors this winter and it wouldn’t be a complete shock if the Pelicans choose to make him unrestricted. That would leave open the possibility of a sign-and-trade, rather than getting nothing if they decline to match an offer sheet.
However, it’s probably a safe assumption that Pelicans will extend the QO and see if Ball’s offers fall into their price range.
In contrast, the Cavaliers acquired Allen as part of the multi-team James Harden blockbuster with the intent of re-signing him. Allen, whose QO is $7.7MM, averaged 13.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG and 1.4 BPG after joining Cleveland.
Allen didn’t exactly turn around the Cavaliers’ fortunes but they seem committed to retaining the 23-year-old center. So if another team covets Allen, it will have to make a substantial offer to force the Cavs to think twice about matching.
That leads us to our question of the day: Among John Collins, Lonzo Ball and Jarrett Allen, which restricted free agent will receive the biggest offer this summer?
Please take to the comments section to voice your opinion on this topic. We look forward to your input.
I hope the Heat do not overpay for Duncan. Pat Riley has a history of overpaying when he extends players on new contracts like he did with J Johnson, Myles and more. I do not see Duncan improving his all-around play to even be a full time starting 2 guard. He is a great shooter but if the shots do not fall he just doesn’t offer anything else.K Nunn I would like to see back but my feeling is he will not be back-he seemed to have fallen out of favor last season.
Robinsons defense is better than last season and better than Nuns defense too.
Robinson passing skills and IQ are higher than the last season.
80 Mio 4 years is realistic
if I’m Travis Schlenk & Atl I’d DEFINITELY be more than willing to pay Duncan $90M over 4yrs & steal him away from division rival Mia
John Collins is coming back to the Hawks on a 4yr $110M type deal unless someone like Sacramento is willing to give up Bagley plus their lotto pick or Wiseman & Minnys lotto pick from the Ws. Hawks have a bright future with John & Dre at forward
Keep John Collins away from San Francisco. We don’t need primadonna attitudes with coke bottle bodies. I mean he’s a pretty good player but a Max guy… we have enough of those on our team. Take his size 38 long jacket somewhere else.
Primadona attitudes? Coke bottle bodies? This isn’t the real housewives smh wtf are u talking about?.. & last time the Ws won the title they had a bunch of max guys
I’d like to see Josh Hart on Philly.
He might be willing to return to the Mainline for a 3,4yr deal for the MLE. Would you be willing to send Korkmaz to NO in a sign & trade for Josh to make sure the Pels don’t match?…
Korkmaz will be a free agent himself
Each of the three has warts, but if I had to pick one it would be Collins. Collins is good, but I have to scoff at people that think he is worth Wiseman + the Minny pick or Bagley + their lotto pick. I could see him going for one or the other with either team, but not both. He’s not that good.
Lonzo is not as good as the hype, but no one could have been. He is a good, not great, starting quality PG. Maybe in the vein of a Raymond Felton or Jamaal Tinsley, which is not meant as an insult at all. But I don’t see him as a franchise guy.
Jarrett Allen is good for what he is, but does anyone really see him as a piece to a championship roster? He is basically on the same path as Greg Monroe.
What are John Collins’ warts?
I wasn’t saying he’s worth Wiseman or Bagley plus a lotto pick, I was saying thats the only type of deal that would get the Hawks to part with him. He’s perfect for our team, even more perfect than stud talents Wiseman or Bagley. He’s a great scorer from 3levels. He’s extremely athletic, has an extremely positive demeanor, he genuinely loves being an Atlanta Hawk, he’s a very willing passer & a very capable defender on & off the ball. Hes a great rebounder, good ballhandler for his size, he’s 1 of the most exciting players in the league. Im failing to see the warts lol
I don’t see him as consistent. He is also a little less offensively talented than I would like as a player to build around. He is a fine defender and will be good on a team with a prolific scorer like Trae Young. But if he goes to a team with a big scoring backcourt, I could see him struggling.
But like I said, I would definitely pick him over Lonzo or Allen. Maybe warts was a tad harsh for Collins, maybe just pimples.
when he gets consistent touches, like last yr, u get consistent production from him. If John got the same number of touches as the other top 4s then he would be All-NBA fr. As far as jim being not offensively talented enough lol I mean what else do u want from a 4? His decision making could be tighter but he literally does everything well offensively from setting picks to 3pt shooting to outlet passing to post scoring to running the break to floater game to picknroll. John is EXTREMELY talented offensively… also he’s already on a team with a high scoring back court
Sure he’s a good player but I’m just afraid he would want the Max or walk. Can’t have the warrior trading for him.
He can’t walk, he’s restricted. Warriors would have to give up alot for John. More than Oubre plus Minnesotas pick
You his agent? If so he made a good hire. Although you might not want to call him Jim anymore.
All-NBA?!?! Man you’ve been playing too much NBA2K21
Forbes is a better shooter than Robinson？
Wolves pick itself has more value than John Collins
Today he was but Forbes is a backup not a starter.The Heat have to make changes to catch up with the competition in the East. Forbes was definitely a better signing than Avery Bradley.
Wolves pick would be 5-9 if GState gets to keep it. If its 5 & they have a shot at Kuminga or Suggs i expect they definitely keep it but other than that there’s nobody in this draft that’s a definite All-Star in the very near future & for yrs to come like John. Ik yall gave got to watch him much so far in his career lol, he’s better than you realize trust me. There’s a reason the Hawks lost the game he was scoreless in foul trouble & won the other 2gms. There’s a reason the All-Star thats he’s guarding is having a horrible series
Even the “definite” All Stars in this draft are not definite. The draft is a complete crapshoot. Just look at John Collins who wasn’t picked until the late teens in a relatively weak draft. No one really knows how these guys are going to adapt to the NBA until they do it. Before that, it is all just guessing…even if people want to make it seem as if they can see the future.
I mean ofc nothing in the draft is definite (RIP Len Bias), but the top 5 of this draft are all VERY high level prospects that project to be All-Star type players. The draft isn’t definite but that obv doesn’t automotive make it a crapshoot lol. Im from Atl & a huge Ga Tech fan & I remember John at Wake, he was very athletic & showed flashes of brilliance but was never dominant at least when I saw him. His draft story is similar to Josh Smith who had the possibility of a versatile skill set but was drafted mainly on his athleticism, just like John. The Hawks have the 20 pick this yr & possibly drafting a guy like Isaiah Todd from Baltimore would be a good look for similar reasons
Wiggins 2 years $65 million contract remaining
Collins max 4 years $132 million
Wolves 6th or 7th pick 4 years $19 million
Collins rookie contract is gold
Collins max contract is overpay bum
Bum value is negative value because it smells bad
Who could you draft at 6 that would impact winning close to the level of John over the next 4yrs?… And the size of John’s contract doesn’t really come as a negative to the Hawks. He’s clearly worth it & it’s not a surprise, we’ve obv seen it coming since the day we drafted him. The Hawks would still have the opportunity to sign another impact free agent if we trade Gallo, or we could keep Gallo & sign an impact vet with the MLE
This is the point
Collins real value is 4 years $80 million
When he signs 4 years $132 million contract
His trade value is more like John Wall than Luka
When you insert $132 million into any top 10 teams, that team will pay huge luxury tax
He’s guarding, please. What gms are you watching. The whole team is guarding Randle. And Capela is lurking at rim. Hawks team D is reason for them being up 2-1. But first gm was given away by Thibs. He chocked it in last 3 mins. So far McMillan is out coaching Thibs. And Young is getting his. Randle and RJ will have gd gms. Imo Collins has not helped himself for a big contract. Okongwu is a big talent. I would move Collins to make team even stronger. Two guys Hawks could move are Collins and Gallinari. They can get back a lot for them. Make them a real contender, and young.
Allen ain’t going anywhere. He’s a solid center for yrs to come.
Ball is not worth 14 mill to NO. Seems by his attitude he doesn’t want to be there. I trade him get it over with. I liked his 2-way potential, his size. And his pass first PG skills. Yet he avg 5 ast a gm. And has never avg more than 7. Imo he’s never gotten over getting traded by Lakers. Maybe a big market team will wake his derrière up. Just please Not the Knicks.
Offer sheets to RFAs aren’t necessarily reflective of the player’s value. It’s more about getting the player’s current team not to match. Most FA markets are about overpaying, but with RFAs it’s almost required. So, it’s hard to predict. Allen is an elite athlete / defender (almost have to look if you’re in the market for a C), Collins was shopped at the deadline (which usually invites an offer sheet), and Miami has 2 RFAs, (matching two RFA offer sheets likely means no cap space and little room under the tax line for quite a few years).
The only RFA I would like to see the Knicks pursue isn’t listed, D. Graham. Not sure if Hornets really want to invest in another PG.
Hawks definitely didn’t shop John at the deadline. They took offers but never seriously considered anything. He’s gonna be in Atl for a long time unless a team gives up alot
Ah, no. When you discuss with multiple teams a rising RFA that you couldn’t agree on an extension with, you’re shopping him. Whenever there’s an “unless somebody gives up a lot” or “we have to be blown away” comment, it’s pretty much an aggressive shopping.
CLE’s willingness to match for Allen will reduce his offers. His focus and ambition seems to vary. 4/$70
Collins seems to disappear, but people are sleeping on the value of intelligence in paint play, specifically in increasing tricks while decreasing fouls… He can hold his own physically and hit 3s efficiently. 4/$110 is possible but maybe he should move on.
When push comes to shove IDK how Lonzo will get valued.
Markkanen is not a good fit with Vucevic. He needs to be with a D center, a rim protector. So he can be more an offensive weapon. Imo he’s going to be a great stretch 4. Closest thing to Dirk I’ve seen. Someone should get him or if you need a 4. You get him cheap. Bulls are building around Zach now. They better pray he stays. They’ve needed a traditional PG for yrs now.
Ball could be a good fit here. Always thought Ball could be a lock down defender. Maybe here he finally reaches his potential.
Heat should keep both their players. I expect them to make another run next yr. Markkanen and Ball I see on new teams next yr.
I believe getting Rondo off next years book was in lieu of Collins – He stays
Lonzo goes to the Bulls 4/68
Ofc Allen is staying
Miami should probably swing for Lonzo…