Proposed trade sees Atlanta Hawks land 6MOY, $90 sharpshooter

While the Atlanta Hawks have acknowledged that they will be players this offseason, both in free agency and in trades, there is still speculation as to just how much change is coming. Further, just how drastic will whatever moves they make be? This is still the core of a group that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago.

Team CEO, Steve Koonin tried to dispel rumors of John Collins being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. But he left the door open for any number of other transactions including the high-flying big man.

That has meant speculation over Collins’ future continues after his dissatisfaction with his role also continued this season.

With that kind of chum in the water, even the division rivals have come out.

The Atlanta Hawks could land another shot creator and three-point shooting if they made this deal with a division rival

Koonin made short work of the Collins-to-Portland rumor. But he did say his team will be active this offseason after standing pat led to their shortcomings this year. They have long been considered a prime candidate for a consolidation trade with all of their young talent, some of whom are on expensive contracts such as Collins.

What if they go a slightly different direction, though, leaning into the notion that they could double-down on their potent offense? That is where the scenario presented by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Ira Winderman.

Asked if the Miami Heat could pursue Collins this summer, Winderman offered an interesting answer.

"Available…for the right price. So the question with the entire offseason rumor mill is whether the Heat have such a price available…But also consider that the prime asset the Heat could offer would be Tyler Herro. And does a team with Trae Young necessarily also need a Tyler Herro?"

Winderman notes that Herro and Young would form a nice combo with the former coming off of the bench. And he also mentions Herro’s stated desire to become a starter after winning Sixth Man of the Year this season.

The Hawks could unexpectedly be a prime destination with news of a second surgery on Bogdan Bogdanovic’s second surgery on his balky right knee.

As for the Heat, Winderman knows Collins would fit but questions his role.

"You could make an argument that John Collins and Bam Adebayo would provide ultimate power-rotation versatility, with the needed stretch-ability…if Collins’ ultimate goal is to be a standalone star, away from the shadow of Trae, I’m not sure playing as a sidekick to Jimmy Butler would be the preferred landing spot."

Collins’ complaints about his role were more about clarity than opportunity. But there is something to be said for the criticism towards Adebayo and Butler for being too passive offensively at times.

The former got called out by Heat president, Pat Riley, in his exit interview.

Collins could get the offensive role he seeks while Herro fits in as a shot-creating co-star in the backcourt with Young capable of taking his man off the dribble.

Duncan Robinson’s inclusion — mostly to make the money work — further complicates this unlikely hypothetical between division rivals. He too is concerned with his role in Miami going forward after signing a lucrative four-year, $90 million deal last offseason.

Riley had a message for him as well as Herro.

The Hawks need defense. But they also lacked offensive options outside of Young. And, sometimes, it can be more beneficial to improve what you are good at rather than try to re-invent the wheel.

Atlanta was mediocre at best defensively this past season But their second-ranked offense of the regular season plummeted to 14th in the postseason against the Heat.