John Collins, Atlanta Hawks. (Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
The Atlanta Hawks and free agent forward John Collins have agreed to a massive new contract.
While he initially tested the market, the Atlanta Hawks were able to retain forward John Collins in his high-profile restricted free agency.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports Atlanta and Collins have agreed to a five-year deal worth $125 million with a player option in that fifth year. Collins was a former first-round pick out of Wake Forest by the Hawks in 2017. While he was inconsistent at times in the Hawks’ latest playoff run, at his best, he is the team’s second-best player, behind only point guard Trae Young.
Atlanta is clearly planning on building a championship contender around Young and Collins now.
Atlanta Hawks re-sign forward John Collins to a massive five-year deal
While Young became a bona-fide superstar last year in his third season out of Oklahoma, how good Atlanta can be down the line hinges on Collins’ continued growth and development at the professional level. He can certainly be an All-Star-level player in the Eastern Conference, and the Hawks organization is paying to eventually become that. He just has to become more consistent.
Atlanta is coming off its best season since relocating from St. Louis in the 1960s. The Hawks were two wins away from getting to the NBA Finals. Though Atlanta may not get back to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, this is a team capable of repeating in the Southeast Division and getting a top-five seed once again. Again, Collins has been paid the big bucks to become a star.
With Collins back in the fold, the Hawks have a plan to keep building towards their bright future.