Photo Credit: The Athletic
Story By: Brian Kelder
Twitter (aka "X") Handle: @TheEducator23
Part I: Was Trading John Collins a 'Win' Move?
The Hawks dumped John Collins. It was not a tank, and it wasn't only a salary dump. It was a great move by an organization that is smarter than people realize. Stick with me, and I'll explain.
John Collins is a decent player who was signed under a “can’t lose the asset for nothing” type contract. He was dealt to Utah, and was immediately panned as a salary dump. My first take is that Collins is a decent player, but ultimately, you can find guys like him. He's not a make-or-break player for an NBA franchise right now.
My second thought here is that he and Trae Young have always clashed in the locker room, so the Collins trade clears up a consistent chemistry issue for the Hawks.
Both items considered, I actually think this was a no-brainer move by the Atlanta Hawks' organization. Well-done, across the board.
Part II: How Does the Trade Impact the Hawks' Expected Rotation?
Of course, moves don’t happen in a vacuum. The Hawks extended Dejounte Murray and further committed to their backcourt. Quin Snyder is also a respected and elite coach. They will win more games than last season.
But how, you ask?
Jalen Johnson is the first name that comes to mind. His per-36 stats were 14 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. That seems quite similar to Collins, doesn’t it? It’s actually better than the six paltry boards Collins produced on a nightly basis. I’m thinking Johnson is a big part of what the Hawks are planning to do this upcoming NBA season.
Other key options are DeAndre Hunter and AJ Griffin on the wing. The Hawks are going to go small with a floor-spacer at the 4 often. Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela will man the center position, but Okongwu is 6-8 so he can slide to the 4, as well.
If you look at all of the pieces, there is a lot of potential here. I do believe the Hawks are going to grab a six-seed in the 2023-24 NBA season.
Part III: Where Does the New CBA Come Into all This?
Bigger picture, we have to consider the 'aprons' of the NBA's luxury tax parameters. The Hawks are the first team to dump a guy to make sure they stay in their aprons. It’s gonna happen more, and drafting is going to be incredibly important. Getting Griffin and Johnson later in the first is a huge boon to the Hawks.
Teams like the Bulls, who have - in my humble opinion - drafted non-NBA players like Patrick Williams and Dalen Terry, will soon be looking at the Hawks for a model how to thrive in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Atlanta Hawks have moved ahead of the curve and are going to be in a great long-term position provided they continue drafting and developing their young franchise cornerstones.
Brian Kelder is a sports writer for John Frascella Sports and Razzball. Follow him on Twitter @TheEducator23 for all things NBA and MLB throughout the year.
