There have been rumblings lately about the Atlanta Hawks and John Collins. The Atlanta Hawks have reservations about signing John Collins to a significant long-term contract extension this offseason. During the trade deadline, teams were calling the Hawks asking about John Collins. With the Hawks hesitating about giving him an extension, teams thought they could pry him away. Collins’ range likely starts at the four-year, $77 million extension signed by Domantas Sabonis with the Indiana Pacers before the start of the season. Collins, for his part, believes he’s proved his value.
“I mean, I feel like I am a priority to the Hawks in terms of my value in the young core,” Collins said. “I feel like that’s no question. Priority in terms of — I don’t know. I definitely feel like I am a priority to them. For a lot of money? I just don’t know personally. I feel like it’s been a unique situation, but I feel like my play has garnered a bigger contract. This is when you want to start comparing, but it’s just a matter of if they’re going to reciprocate the respect back.
“I definitely feel like I am in max contract contention. If I finish this season averaging 20 and 10, the other guys who are averaging 20 and 10 are max-caliber guys. I’m in that conversation and feel like I am worthy of being extended as such. That’s for the Hawks to decide and figure it out. If you want to look at numbers and flat-out play, I definitely feel like I’ve earned it. But the team situation, future cap and all that, now you have a contract negotiation. The Hawks could wait until Collins becomes a restricted free agent in 2021. “I wouldn’t take it personal, but my antennas would be up, for sure,” Collins said. “If I can leave it at that. My antennas would be up.”
My Thoughts
For my fellow Atlanta Hawks fans, should the Hawks give John Collins an extension? This is a definite hell yes, they should for me. Since being drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, Collins has improved in every aspect of his game. John Collins is one of the best young talents in the league and I’ll say he’s one of the top-5 power forwards now. If that’s enough, let’s look at the chemistry Collins has with Trae Young. This is a tough decision for the Hawks to make, but this is one I’m all for. John Collins was the first piece in the Atlanta Hawks rebuilding process and he need to remain with them for the foreseeable future. Many GMs thought Collins was a top-10 talent coming into the NBA Draft. John Collins has proved them right and will only get better.
