Atlanta Hawks trade proposal lands $64 million enforcer, ‘do-it-all’ guard

For some, this offseason presents the perfect opportunity for the Atlanta Hawks to finally move on from seventh-year forward John Collins, the longest-tenured player on the team.

One potential destination could be the Los Angeles Clippers.

“Collins, 25, needs a change of scenery and could thrive as a third or fourth option in Los Angeles,” wrote Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report on June 1. “He’s a good enough three-point shooter to keep the floor spread and can play either power forward or center for stretches.”

Collins’ tenure in Atlanta has been on a downward trend for the last few seasons. Despite a hefty contract signed just two summers ago, he has been a constant n trade rumors with the front office falling short of unequivocally denying he was available to the highest bidder on the trade market.

This past season, he averaged career lows with 13.1 points and 6.5 assists this past season while his three-point shooting also went into the tank. Further complicating matters is the remaining $78-plus million over the final three years of his contract.

Collins is also said to be open to a change of scenery (subscription required).

“With Collins not living up to his contract in Atlanta, the Hawks can use Morris as the team’s starting power forward while Mann is a do-it-all guard off the bench.”

Veteran Marcus Morris, 33, averaged 11.2 points and 4.0 boards this past season. He shot better than 36.0% from beyond the arc for the sixth consecutive season and would provide toughness. Morris is heading into the final year of his contract, giving the Hawks some much-needed flexibility with Dejounte Murray set to be an unrestricted free agent.

Don’t sleep on Terance Mann, 26, either. The former second-round pick has good size at 6-foot-5 and can play both guard positions behind Murray and Trae Young. He is coming off a down year statistically – 8.8/3.4/2.3 – but averaged 10.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 2022.

He also connected on 38.9% of his triples this past year.

Mann starts a two-year, $22 million contract next season and, perhaps in the non-starter for the tax-averse Hawks, this deal would add roughly $2.3 million to the bottom line.

Atlanta Hawks still “value” John Collins

Of course, Collins is still the best individual player in that deal, and the Hawks have maintained a high price to pry him loose. At his peak, he is a rim-running, shot-blocker who can also stretch the floor and has a 21.0-point, 10.0-rebound season to his name.

While teams will value him as the player we saw last season, it is in the Hawks’ best to value him closer to his previous self, even if it means finding better ways to implement him.

That will at least in part require Collins’ shot to return.

But the Hawks are also likely wary of moving the big man with his value at its lowest knowing what he is capable of when right.