Trade candidate No. 5: John Collins
Imagine being in John Collins’ shoes. You have breakout season after breakout season, solidifying yourself as one of basketball’s top power forwards. Then, your team somehow loses faith in you and signs Danilo Gallinari to a three-year, $61 million deal just as you’re about to hit free agency.
Last year, during his third season as a pro, Collins averaged 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, on 58.3 percent shooting from the field and 40.1 percent from 3-point range.
So why did the two sides fail to agree on a contract extension? Well, apparently the Atlanta Hawks “are not in love with him”, whatever that may mean. Collins believes he is worth a max contract and the Hawks do not share the same philosophy.
As a result, the Hawks are actively looking to trade him away, before they lose him in free agency by getting nothing in return. Both sides know that there is no future there, meaning that his trade value does not accurately reflect his level of play.
Questions have to be asked Atlanta’s way during this whole conundrum. By trading Collins away in exchange for a lottery pick, which at best will fetch a player like Collins, Atlanta’s rebuilding scheme is being pushed even further back.