The Atlanta Hawks have a decision to make before the end of the season. Do they or do they not trade John Collins?
The Atlanta Hawks have had a decision to make since they failed to come to an agreement for a rookie extension with John Collins. The fourth-year power forward appears to have differences with Trae Young about how the offense should be run for the Hawks.
Unlike the situation with James Harden and the Houston Rockets, the parties involved have managed to keep the conversation civil so there is not a great rush to trade Collins. However, the Hawks do not want to risk Collins walking at the end of the season for nothing.
As a result, the rumor mill has been bubbling and brewing about whether the Hawks are indeed going to trade Collins or are they going to see if they can patch things up. This would be their preferred situation but not one which is too likely.
The Atlanta Hawks are in no rush to decide on John Collins
While the rest of the NBA was in a frenzy over the James Harden trade the Hawks did not need to enter into the fray. Instead, they are able to sit back and watch, waiting to see if they can the right deal for Collins.
They have until March 25, the NBA trade deadline, to make a deal for Collins. Most teams will not be able to offer some of their desired trade pieces until the new contract protections have come off. For most players, this is at the start of February. With all that in mind, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of trading John Collins.
Atlanta Hawks pro No. 1) Getting something back for John Collins
When an NBA team invests four years into a player they want to have some return on their investment. While this sounds a little cut and dry, the NBA is a business after all. They want to win a championship and the players are the capital they use to make this happen.
As they do not have any guarantee that Collins will return to the fold next year, they need to trade him to a team and get something back for him. Due to no one ruling out the two parties being to resolve their differences before the year is out, the Hawks still have some trading capital when it comes to moving Collins.
For this team to start to contend for playoffs, they need Collins or someone who will be able to provide production at a similar level to the four-year man out of Wake Forest. They will also need them to be happy with being in an offense that is controlled by Young.
Atlanta Hawks pro No. 2) Keeping team harmony.
At the moment there appears to be no damage to the chemistry of the team despite Collins and Young disagreeing on how the offense should be run. However, if the year goes on and the Hawks are not winning, then these competitive personalities may start to clash more.
If the Hawks are able to find a trade partner who will give them the desired assets before this happens then that will benefit the team culture. It may not come to this but sometimes it is best not to take that chance.
Atlanta Hawks cons No. 1) John Collins is a cornerstone player
It is never easy to trade away a player you had earmarked as a cornerstone of your franchise. However, when that cornerstone does not like what is being built, the whole structure can fall down like a house of cards.
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However, players who have the ability to average 20 points,10 rebounds, two assists, and a block per game do not grow on trees. If the Hawks can reconcile the differences between Young and Collins about the offense and re-sign Collins then that will be the best of both worlds.
The other problem for the Hawks in re-signing Collins is that he is going to get paid this summer. Teams have been hoarding cap space in the hope of signing Giannis Anteteokounmpo. These hopes were dashed when he signed his super-max deal in the offseason.
Atlanta Hawks con No. 2) His outstanding play in losses.
In some games, Collins has put the team on his back and bought them almost all the way back from large deficits to almost get them to a win. He was huge in the big comeback in the first game against the Charlotte Hornets. Collins’ play gave his teammates hope.
In the second game against the Hornets Collins was instrumental in the Hawks being in the game at halftime. He then had one shot for each of the last three periods and the Hawks lost. Without Collins, the team does struggle.
Atlanta Hawks con No. 3) The potential to upset team chemistry.
Any trade that a team makes mid-season is a risk to the chemistry that the team has developed with their current players. Trading such a big part of their on-court production makes it even more so. However, the Hawks may believe that the short-term pain will be offset by the long-term gain.