Atlanta Hawks forward, John Collins’ time with the franchise seems to be coming to an end. The Hawks have reportedly agreed to trade the young star this offseason. Collins will definitely have many suitors in the market and he won’t be too disappointed by this news. NBA reporter Marc Stein claimed that the possibility of Collins being traded is ‘as high as it has ever been.’
The Miami Heat battered the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2022 playoffs. The Hawks desperately need to upgrade their roster in a bid to stay relevant in an increasingly difficult East. That won’t be easy with a payroll of $151 million.
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Massive offseason for Atlanta
Stein reported, “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 February 10 trade deadline. 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.”
The Hawks can either get a superstar in return, which will help them win now, or they can clear money off their books by trading Collins. They can go after big-name free agents this offseason or the next if they choose to make cap space. Collins didn’t have a big role with the Hawks, and this proved to be an issue. He will be looking to go to a franchise where he can have a major role.
DIVE DEEPER
The Hawks hoped that the duo of Trae Young and John Collins will lead the franchise to success. But that hasn’t come to fruition. The best outcome for everyone involved will be to trade Collins.
Disappointing season for the Atlanta Hawks
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Coming off a Conference Finals appearance the previous season, there were hopes Hawks could at least match that feat. In a tough Eastern Conference, Atlanta barely managed to squeeze into the play-in tournament. They secured the 8th seed and faced the No 1 Miami Heat. Miami dominated the Hawks and eliminated them in 5 games. Trae Young had an excruciating series as he was completely shut off.
John Collins, on the other hand, got his minutes cut in another instance of frustration for the young star. He had already become discouraged due to his role in the team. The 24-year-old attempted 11.9 shots per game, his lowest rate since his rookie season, and his usage rate (20.1) told a similar story.
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Source: | This article originally belongs to Essentially Sports
