Atlanta Hawks: Could John Collins Make Team USA Final Roster?

After a terrific second year in the NBA could John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks make Team USA’s final roster for the FIBA World Cup?

Following the bad news that Trae Young was dipping out of Team USA activities due to an eye infection, that pares down the Atlanta Hawks representation at Team USA to only one man: John Collins.

Collins produced a near 20-point/10-rebound campaign in his second season in the NBA. Beyond that, he showed widespread improvement in all manner of on-court abilities.

While his defense was still left wanting, he did noticeably improve on that end as the season wound down – promising signs for the 21-year-old.

Young pulling out of Team USA was truly poor timing, as two of the likely point guards on the team, Marcus Smart and Kyle Lowry, will almost certainly miss the FIBA World Cup due to injuries (according to reporting from NBA.com’s John Schuhmann). Since Young is no longer present, could Collins perhaps slide onto the team?

Though, of course, the team would benefit (on offense at least) with the presence of both Collins and Young as the two players’ chemistry is undeniable and the two had tremendous seasons last year due to the other’s presence on the Atlanta Hawks.

The current makeup of the Team USA roster is fairly stacked with wings and traditional centers, such as Mason Plumlee, Brook Lopez and Myles Turner, but Collins would provide an incredible level of vertical spacing to go along with the creation abilities of the various wings and guards on the team.

Sure, we might be slightly biased here at SDS, but Collins would make for a terrific addition to Team USA for the FIBA World Cup as there are very few players that could match Collins’s stunning athleticism on any other team’s roster (save for Giannis Antetokounmpo for Greece and a few select others).

What do you think? Should JC make Team USA? Let us know in the comments or on social media, and, as always keep it locked to Soaring Down South for plenty more news and updates regarding the Atlanta Hawks.