Big man John Collins has become the odd man out on the Atlanta Hawks, and his usage rate has steadily dwindled over the last few seasons. Perhaps a trade could revive his career, and it seems as though some teams are already interested.
A recent report from Sean Deveney of Heavy shared the words of an NBA executive, who said that the Nets still have an interest in acquiring John Collins, but noted that they can’t really move for a player like him unless someone takes on Ben Simmons’ contract. However, he did also note that Ben Simmons makes a lot of sense for the Hawks, as they need a “defensive group” around point guard Trae Young.
“The Nets want some guys who can score, and (Collins) can score. But the only way they (the Nets) can really do something big, can really get someone who can score in there, is if they can get a taker for Ben Simmons,” one league executive told Heavy Sports. “There aren’t a lot of teams where that would make sense, but Atlanta is one of them, because you need to build a defensive group around Trae Young.
“Now, if you’re the Nets, you still have to convince Atlanta that Simmons wants to play. Obviously, that is the question around him right now.”
This is definitely an interesting scenario for both teams involved, and a swap could make sense. The key is obviously how good Ben Simmons will be next season, and there is a chance that the Hawks will not want to gamble on his form based on what we’ve seen with the Brooklyn Nets.
With that being said, it is quite possible that Ben Simmons’ talent is worth it. He was a three-time All-Star before his back injury, and if he can play at that level for the Hawks, then they can become a very dangerous team.
John Collins’ Trade Value Has Decreased Significantly In Recent Memory
There is no doubt that John Collins’ production has waned in recent years, and understandably his trade value has dropped. In fact, it was previously revealed that the team was willing to let him go for a quality player.
“After all these years of John Collins trade rumors, executives who have spoken to the Hawks about acquiring the veteran forward recently have indicated that the asking price has — understandably — declined significantly this time around. As I detailed in my recent conversation with Collins, the combination of his large contract and his declined production is hardly helpful in terms of his modern-day value. In some scenarios, the Hawks are merely asking for a quality player in return (and not a first-round pick), according to league sources.”
Ben Simmons could end up being a better fit with the Atlanta Hawks, and we will see if he ends up getting traded there for John Collins in the future. At this point, it is best for Collins and the Hawks to part ways, and perhaps a trade will happen this offseason.
