AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins has reportedly piqued the fervour of extra than one teams on the switch market in modern weeks.
In accordance with Matt Moore of The Action Network, the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings have all checked in on Collins.
Moore noted that while the Hawks were browsing each and each Collins and aged forward Danilo Gallinari main as a lot as the 2022 NBA draft, nothing materialized due largely to a tepid market.
Collins, 24, has been a relentless topic of switch rumors through the last couple of years, and the whispers grew louder following an up-and-down 2021-22 season for the Hawks.
Atlanta signed Collins to a 5-Three hundred and sixty five days, $125 million extension after helping the crew skedaddle on a Cinderella sprint to the Japanese Convention Finals in 2021, however remaining season did no longer skedaddle per opinion for Collins or the Hawks as a complete.
The Hawks barely reached the playoffs with a 43-39 file and bought eradicated within the principle spherical by the Miami Heat.
Meanwhile, Collins had his lowest scoring moderate since his rookie season with 16.2 functions per sport to skedaddle along with 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 three-pointers made and 1.0 block. He additionally shot a occupation-low 52.6 p.c from the self-discipline.
Collins had an even more difficult skedaddle within the playoffs, averaging right 9.4 functions, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 5 video games.
There was clearly a disconnect between Collins and the Hawks remaining season, as Shams Charania of The Athletic reported in January that Collins had grown “extra and additional pissed off” with his role and “challenged the Hawks locker room on various events.”
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic added gasoline to the fireside remaining week, reporting that a source shut to Collins said he is “performed in Atlanta.”
Whereas Collins has some deficiencies, severely on the defensive ruin, the 6’9″ forward is known as a enormous-time addition for any quantity of teams.
He’s right two years eradicated from averaging a occupation-excessive 21.6 functions and 10.1 rebounds in 41 video games at some level of the 2019-20 season, showing what he can compose when utilized nicely.
The Celtics, Bulls and Kings would likely all characteristic Collins prominently, though to various levels.
Boston reached the NBA Finals remaining season sooner than falling to the Golden Command Warriors, and while Collins would positively be a starter, he would doubtlessly be the third scoring option gradual Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The Bulls were a playoff crew remaining season, however they lack a upright energy forward, so Collins would be an ultimate match and perchance the No. 2 scoring option gradual DeMar DeRozan unless Zach LaVine returns in free agency.
Sacramento is within the course of a 16-Three hundred and sixty five days playoff drought and might perchance perchance perchance use a splashy addition like Collins to get reduction heading within the right route.
Collins would give the Kings one in every of the NBA’s most though-provoking frontcourt duos alongside Domantas Sabonis, and few teams would be ready to match up nicely with them.
Even though the Collins-Hawks relationship hasn’t been at its handiest these days, buying and selling him would skedaddle away Atlanta with a enormous gap on the roster and no sure No. 2 scoring option gradual All-Considerable particular person guard Trae Young.
