The Atlanta Hawks Need To Empower John Collins

Players who find themselves in trade rumors over a series of years usually end up getting moved, or signs elsewhere. Whether it’s the pressure of having your name constantly linked to other teams, or it’s a feeling of a lack of appreciation from the team you’re on, it all usually ends the same.

One team, however, should do everything in its power to change course, especially after the summer they just had.

The Atlanta Hawks have long been in the rumor mill about moving away from John Collins, one of the league’s most talented offensive forwards, something that’s yet been done, but have seemingly been on the cusp of happening several times over.

Star addition should change things

Over the summer, the Hawks acquired All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, who will now share the backcourt with fellow All-Star Trae Young. Both players finished last season averaging over nine assists per game, providing the Hawks with a ton of creative playmaking capabilities.

For a player like Collins, who isn’t one to create his own shot, but fares well when set up, he now stands a great chance at becoming Atlanta’s most essential end-target. While Young, a known producer of points, is still likely to lead the team in scoring, the threat of Collins wrecking havoc off the attention defenses will give to Young and Murray is frankly intoxicating.

Collins, who has connected on 55.9% of his shots for his career, including 37.6% from behind the three-point line, is bound to maintain, or even increase, his efficiency as he now has two elite playmakers to find him. This further underlines the need of actually making more use of the 24-year-old, and to carve out a proper role for him in the offense.

In 2021, Collins signed a new contract worth $125 million over five years. Last season, the first year of that contract, he took a modest 11.9 shots per game, and rarely featured as a big piece in Atlanta’s offense, often to the frustration of the fan base, and himself.

With the Hawks now having built arguably the league’s most potent backcourt, it’d be a waste to not surround them with players who can make things happen. Collins is already there, but recent history suggests the Hawks haven’t prioritized him the way they should. This is their chance to rectify that situation and once and for all cement Collins as a huge piece of their identity, and their plans, going forward.

Teams should have interest

If the Hawks once again fail to make proper use of Collins, teams carrying elite playmakers, like Dallas and Denver, should be all over looking into ways of how to provide the forward with a new home, where they can empower him to return to 2019-2010 standards, where he averaged over 21 points and 10 rebounds per game.

As the salary cap increases – a trend that is likely to continue – it’s going to easier for teams to find a way to add a $25 million-per-year player. And, should Atlanta not have used him enough, teams might be able to negotiate a favorable deal, based on Collins’ lack of numbers.

Obviously, that would be a mistake on behalf of Atlanta. Instead, the organization needs to empower the forward before someone else does. It’s not just the right thing to do for a player that talented, it should also genuinely help the Hawks become less reliable on Young, and make their offense one of the most potent in the NBA.

It’s time to flip the narrative, and it starts now with committing to Collins.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.