John Collins was a stellar frontcourt option during his time with the Hawks.
If I had to choose a single moment where Atlanta was fully backing the youngster, it was the game-icing lob where John the Baptist earned his name, posterizing the very soul of Joel Embiid in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Collins may yet have his Atlanta peak in front of him, though - his status as a free agent and much-reduced price tag may very well convince Onsi Saleh to pull the trigger on a JC reunion.
Collins would be much more successful in a dynamic system
Haven't heard too much about John Collins since he left Atlanta? I don't blame you in the slightest.
While Collins was gracing highlight reels left and right during his time as Trae Young and Clint Capela's running mate back in 2021, he seemingly fell off the face of the earth - as far as ESPN, SportsCenter, and the like were concerned.
While it may look as though Collins hasn't produced highlights or big moments of late, it's truly due to two critical factors.
First, after the trade to Utah, Collins played for the Jazz from 2023-2025. During his time in Utah, Collins often backed up Lauri Markannen and Walker Kessler when healthy. This relegated bench role shrunk the former stud from the limelight even more when you consider the near-zero frequency at which the Jazz were winning games.
Second, Collins played for the LA Clippers in 2025-2026. LA finally saw Collins produce as a rotation player on a competitive squad, but at the cost of becoming an afterthought in a Harden-led offense.
While Collins shone brightly at his corner-3pt-shooting role (converting on over 40% of his looks on 3+ attempts per game), that was about all he accomplished, due to Harden - and later Garland - dominating offensive reps.
John Collins has long been missing a system that utilizes his greatest strength - playing as a pick-and-roll lob threat (or pick-and-pop shooter, now that his shooting has vastly improved) in a system that never stagnates. Sound familiar?
Quin Snyder's perfect frontcourt tool of the future: John Collins
Now, let's not get terribly ahead of ourselves. John Collins is many things, but young is not one of them. While Collins' athletic peak is assuredly in his rearview mirror, that doesn't mean he can't remain a viable role player in a constantly moving offensive engine.
Enter Quin Snyder's movement system that the coach has carried with him since his Utah days. While Collins may be a far cry from Gobert on the defensive end of the court, his lob-finishing ability at the rim rivals that of a prime Stifle Tower.
Add to the mix Collins' much-improved jumpshot (his final season with Atlanta, he shot 29.2% from long range - last season with the Clips, this number was just over 40%), and you have a clear recipe for success.
In a frontcourt sorely lacking depth (sorry Mo Gueye, you might not be the answer if the offensive woes continue), Collins is a shining star glistening amongst a bevy of dying red dwarves.
Make the call, Onsi - bring The Baptist home.
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