Hawks forward John Collins, one of the league’s prime trade candidates, is “comfortable” with whatever happens over the next month, he told Sam Amick of The Athletic in an extensive interview.
“I come in and I play basketball, and whatever happens, happens because I don’t control that side. I don’t have any control over any decisions that get made, where I am and where I play. I don’t have any control over that,” he said. “I can say, ‘Hey, I want to do this and I wanna do that,’ and they (the Hawks) can just do whatever they feel is fair. You saw it with Kevin Durant, right? He’s begging for trade, and Brooklyn is like, ‘Nah.’ Not saying that I’m Kevin Durant, but it’s just the mentality of ‘Yeah, you can say whatever, you can make a public scene, you can do whatever (and it won’t matter).’”
Collins, who is averaging 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per night, is in the second year of a five-year, $125MM contract with the Hawks.
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Bucks forward Serge Ibaka will miss the team’s road trip for personal reasons, according to coach Mike Budenholzer, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. The Bucks faced the Knicks on Monday. Milwaukee plays Atlanta and Miami (twice) before returning home. Ibaka has appeared in 16 games this season but has averaged just 11.6 minutes in those contests.
- RJ Barrett is “real close” to returning to action, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps (Twitter link) and other media members. Barrett hasn’t played since departing in the first quarter against Dallas on Dec. 27 due to a lacerated finger. New York’s next game is against Indiana on Wednesday.
- The Hornets are likely to be sellers at the trade deadline, Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer opines in his latest mailbag. President of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak hasn’t made major trades during his tenure in Charlotte, but with the club floundering, players on expiring contracts such as Mason Plumlee and Kelly Oubre could be dealt to contenders.
You add another high volume shooter in Murray to the mix and someone will ultimately score less.
The best thing the Hawks can get out of this is a cheaper player or an expiring contract. They have changed their teams identity to a 2 guard dominant system. They need a 3&D rim runner type, low volume, high PER type player. And honestly would be better off trying to draft this type of player bc I don’t think they’ll get it via trade.
For hawks Imo.
Anunoby, Kuzma, Markannen, Vanderbilt, Oubre,
And to a lesser extent, Cameron johnson. Could all be great fits.
I disagree about draft route though, only as far as the development and timeline. If looking at 2-3 years from now, sure. But by then the team will probably look dramatically different by then. By then Griffin, Okongwu, may fill those needs.
The past 2 nba seasons have been really strange as far as inactivity. Almost every team with perceived needs going in and hoping on magic, still has those same needs. Half a dozen teams are loaded in certain positions and nothing in other positions.
There is a perceived (or real) idea that it is a sellers market, yet half the teams are not just strict buyers, but a combination of both. Most teams need trades to even out their teams, not to buy a player with picks.
Well 3 of those guys you listed are not really available – they want a King’s ransom for OG and Utah is unlikely to deal Lauri or Vanderbilt. 2 are hurt. And then there is Kuzma.
But it coms back to number of shots – Kuzma is getting 25 shots a game. Is he getting that on this Hawks team? And are you going to break the bank for Kuzma come FA. I get where you’re going with – buy a proven player, but if they don’t want to pay Collins b/c of his lack of production, why bring in higher dollar players who will also ultimately produce lower due to reduced shot totals?
As far as current roster, Okongwu can’t shoot he’s a back-up 5 only. And Griffin is not going to play PF in the nba. You could pay Hunter at the 4, when healthy. But drafting a guy like Kris Murray would be a good fit for them – he should be there at the current draft slotting.
ATL: Marcus Morris and Jae Crowder
LA: John Collins and Torrey Craig
PHX: Robert Covington and Justin Holiday
Atlanta get two versatile veteran forwards. Think what they really need in particular is some leaders and experience and these two guys will bring that in the locker room in particular. I think that goes along way to making a better team off the court. Then on the floor, both guys are happy at either forward spot, can space the floor, but are more known for being tough and physical and good on defence. Think that’s what they need for John Collins.
LA gives up Morris and RoCo for an upgrade at PF. John Collins can establish himself as the third/fourth option playing off two of the best two way players in the game and under a great head coach. He’s a much better rebounder and shot blocker and less of an on ball defender compared to Morris. He’s also more of a scoring threat, great and get out on transition and finishing at the rim. Think it’s the fresh start he needs. Not to mention Craig is a decent pick up as a 2 way wing
Lastly the Suns finally move off Crowder. It’s something that ultimately has to happen before the deadline or they will make aswell be a player down and a key player at that. RoCo is a solid fit for them cause he’s such a team guy that won’t demand touches or anything just happy to sit in the corner and shoot, which if you think about it that’s all they need. CP3 facilitates, Booker is the number 1 option, Bridges is a good sidekick and Ayton is busy on picks and rolls and rebounding. They just need that floor spacer and smart cutter. Not to mention getting back Justin Holiday is also a great steal, he would be handy come playoffs for perimeter defence in spirts.
Good logic and writing
Reports suggested the Hawks want a deal “similar to Rudy or Mitchell” for Collins….. how do the Hawks hold any cards here? They need JCs contract off the books and are floundering in the East. A trade bails them out more than it helps whoever takes Collins
Where does it say that ??