3 Most Likely John Collins Trade Destinations

The Atlanta Hawks' season isn't going as planned, and rising star John Collins is at the center of trade rumors. Collins has reportedly voiced his issues regarding teammate Trae Young's playstyle, and with the big man looking for a max contract this offseason, Atlanta must decide if he's worth shelling out for.

If the Hawks look to move Collins, here are three likely trade destinations.

John Collins Trade Rumors

3. Boston Celtics

There's already noise surround the Boston Celtics possibly being a player for Collins, which makes sense. While the Celtics have two stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the team needs a true threat down low. Collins averaged a double-double last season (21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds) while shooting 40% from deep, showcasing that he's the ideal big man for the current NBA. While his numbers are slightly down this year, the potential for him to feast alongside Tatum and Brown is too hard to ignore. The Hawks reportedly want a lottery pick for Collins, which the Celtics can't offer, but possibly Marcus Smart and a package of future firsts could entice Atlanta.

2. Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are the league's feel-good story this year, with rookie LaMelo Ball and offseason signing Gordon Hayward helping the team to be in the playoff mix. Charlotte is particularly guard-centric at the moment, so a Collins trade would give them a budding frontcourt star to hold down the paint for years to come. Currently the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference and having a number of intriguing young players, Charlotte could put together an interesting trade offer headlined by their current lottery-bound first-rounder for the Hawks' big man. Michael Jordan isn't afraid to make moves, and it's clear the Hornets have the potential to grow into a contender, so now is the time for the Hall-of-Famer to take a big swing as he tries to build a legit threat in the East.

1. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are another surprise team this year, with All-Star Julius Randle leading the way for the East's current 5-seed. Thanks to careful cap planning, New York is in position to spend this offseason, making them a great candidate to fulfill Collins' contract desires. The chance to be a star in a big market has to be particularly alluring for the fourth-year big, who'd be one of the Knicks' main options and form a terrifying frontcourt alongside Randle and Mitchell Robinson. Not only does New York have its own cache of interesting young players, but they own the Dallas Mavericks' unprotected first-round pick for this year's draft. With that selection currently slated to be in the lottery, it'd be a great asset for the Knicks to put on the table in order to secure a young star in Collins.

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