The Atlanta Hawks have a few decisions to make after they followed up a run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season by barely making the playoffs this season. The team lost comfortably in the first round against the Miami Heat, and the Hawks will know that they simply need to do better if they are going to maximize Trae Young’s potential and get better.
Hawks GM and President, Travis Schlenk, spoke about how changes would be made after the first-round exit, and they have already been linked with moves for stars like Deandre Ayton. But it seems that John Collins is available for trade even outside of that, with Atlanta seemingly wanting to move up in the draft, as suggested by NBA insider Kevin O’Connor.
“League sources say the Hawks are looking to add a lottery pick either by outright trading John Collins or also including this selection. One of the teams they’ve had talks with is Portland.”
Collins has shown in the past that he can become the kind of player that averages over 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. And age is on his side still considering that he is only just 24. However, his injury issues mean that Collins has never played a full NBA season, and his stats have declined in both years after 2020.
This might be part of the reason Atlanta is okay with parting with Collins for a lottery pick, and a chance of scenery might help the player individually as well. The aforementioned Blazers could be an excellent fit, they’re always looking for talent to put around Damian Lillard.
Ultimately, it will probably come down to whether the Hawks feel like they can get the player they desire with the lottery pick they could trade Collins for. Drafting a star can alter the entire course of a franchise and with Trae Young already a Hawk, another star could make Atlanta contenders for seasons to come.
