Four questions that were answered for the Atlanta Hawks on the recent roadtrip

Atlanta Hawks Question No. 1) Where would John Collins play in the short term?

When the Hawks started their two-week marathon there were so many trade rumors going around. Most of them centered around John Collins but there were also questions about whether Cam Reddish and Rajon Rondo would find new homes.

The Hawks would indeed make a move and it was not the fourth-year star power forward. The trade of Rajon Rondo to the Clippers was an inspired one and fortunately for Hawks fans, Collins would stay with the Hawks until the end of the season.

Collins has responded well to the leadership of McMillan including setting a new career-high 38 points against the Golden State Warriors, just days after Draymond Green had proclaimed himself to be the best defender ever in the NBA.

If the Hawks believed that they did not have a good shot at retaining Collins, then they would have moved him. Instead, they moved what appeared to be, effectively, dead salary in Rondo who was going to be guaranteed $7.5 million next season.

Moving this off the books opens the door for the Hawks to match almost any offer sheet that Collins signs, effectively keeping him at the club for years. He will be earning market value for his next contract which will keep him happy, considering the Hawks should be a perennial playoff team for the next five to ten years.