Hawks fans can finally breathe.
After lengthy negotiations with star forward, John Collins seemed to hit a screeching halt; Atlanta Hawks fans (myself included) were on the edge of their seats waiting for news. Collins was the longest-tenured Hawk this past season and has had a veteran impact in the locker room. After showing steady development with his jump shot and overall game, the Hawks offered a four-year, $90 million contract this past offseason. John declined, looking to bet on himself to become a max contract player at the end of the 2021 season. While many things about Collins’ game can be questioned, his commitment to winning cannot. In a contract year, it is typical for NBA players, certainly ones that are looking for a max, to try to put up the best stats possible. John did the opposite, sacrificing what could’ve been tens of millions of dollars to play his role on the team and to help the Hawks win. With John’s help, Atlanta competed for a title this past year, which did not go unnoticed by Travis Schlenk.
The Hawks presented a five-year, $125 million contract at the beginning of the offseason. Is it enough money? Will a sign-and-trade be the only solution? Will we lose our homegrown talent for absolutely nothing? Nothing seemed certain, and with multiple other suitors showing interest in giving him the max he desired, a future with the Hawks looked bleak. That is until 8:50 Wednesday morning, as Collins signed a massive five-year, $125 million contract. After months of rumors, it is finally over.
With JC signed, the Hawks are, for the most part, running it back with the same pieces as last season. This wraps up a fantastic offseason for Schlenk, who yet again showed his prowess at surrounding Trae Young with superb role players that fit his style of play. Collins, who was selected by Atlanta in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft, has been an essential piece in the Hawk’s arsenal of talent. He began his career as a talented yet raw rim runner but has developed into a polished forward. While a fair amount of fans were upset with the contract John received, it is a win-win for both the Hawks and Collins. The length of the contract gives Atlanta plenty of time to decide both the future of JC and the franchise. At $25 million a year, this contract is very moveable if the Hawks look to trade him, while the player option on the last year gives John the flexibility to decide his future. John Collins averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds a game; Atlanta will expect that he can maintain the same level of production in his fifth year with the team. With this signing, the Hawks have one more roster spot open and a lineup which features depth at every position. It’s safe to say Atlanta is ready to take the Eastern Conference and the NBA by storm this season
