To change things up in a significant manner, the Atlanta Hawks may be willing to move one of their most important players over the summer. According to Marc Stein, the Hawks are set to trade power forward John Collins this summer.
A player option for the 2025-26 season might help make Collins more enticing to potential suitors since he still has four years left on his current deal. Since last season saw the Hawks make it to the Eastern Conference finals before being knocked out in the first round this year, the team’s top management has obviously decided that they need to make some changes to the squad.
Aside from the Portland Trail Blazers, it’s likely there are many more teams interested in Collins. In addition to the Hawks, the Sacramento Kings have also shown interest in the 24-year-old, according to Shams Charania.
Where could Collins be traded?
“The likelihood of a John Collins trade, league sources indicate, is as high as it’s ever been. Collins just completed the first season of a five-year, $125 million contract, but the newness of his deal didn’t do anything to downgrade external interest in the 6-foot-9 forward that has bubbled leaguewide since talks broke down between Collins and Hawks on a $90 million extension at the start of the 2020-21 season.
“He was one of the league’s most-talked-about trade targets this season until Atlanta ultimately decided to shut down all Collins discussions before the Feb. 10 trade buzzer when the team started to pull out of its 17-25 start. The trade chatter has since only intensified since Atlanta’s meek first-round exit to Miami in five games… I’ve been advised that relocation for Collins this offseason is pretty much expected now.”
Marc Stein on Collins
