Atlanta Hawks Reportedly Trying To Trade Key Player

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Atlanta Hawks are trying to trade John Collins.

The Atlanta Hawks have been to the NBA Playoffs in each of the previous three seasons. 

However, after making the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, they have lost in the first round for two straight years.   

John Collins, who is one of their best players, has spent his entire six-year career with the franchise.

Next year, Collins will enter the third year of a five-year contract that is worth $125 million.

Over the past few seasons, he has been one of the most mentioned players in trade rumors.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (via his newsletter on Substack), the Hawks are still trying to move Collins. 

Via Stein's article on The Stein Line: "Trading Collins is Atlanta’s ongoing top priority, but there has clearly been more interest in Hunter and Capela."

NBA free agency (and more trades) en route soon ... which means we gotta run the Sunday notes on a Saturday.

This Week In Basketball: https://t.co/rMw1ucHcgk

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 24, 2023

This past year, Collins averaged 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per contest while shooting 50.8% from the field. 

While it's becoming a regular occurrence to see his name in rumors around the trading deadline and the offseason, the Hawks have never actually moved the former Wake Forest star. 

Therefore, it's entirely possible he once again returns to the Hawks for the 2023-24 season. 

If he does get traded, Collins is a talented enough player to make a significant impact on whoever his next team is. 

The 25-year-old averaged 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 58.3% from the field and 40.1% from the three-point range in 41 games during his third season in the NBA.