Amid the Danilo Gallinari signing and the addition of USC center Onyeka Okongwu, John Collins' future with the Atlanta Hawks seems bleak. But in a recent interview, general manager Travis Schlenk says that contract extension talks have begun with the incoming fourth-year man.
Per Hawks reporter Brad Rowland, Schlenk expressed their desire to keep Collins amid filling up the four spot in the offseason.
Schlenk says they would "love to get an extension done" with John Collins and they are in conversation with his agents.
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) November 25, 2020
The Hawks can be regarded as one of the winners of the offseason thus far. They filled in their backcourt by adding veteran guard Rajon Rondo, shooter Bogdan Bogdanovic, guard Kris Dunn. In the frontcourt, they loaded up with Gallinari and sixth overall pick Okongwu. Note that they also have Clint Capela whom they acquired via trade in February.
At face value, there seems to be no problem having that type of depth in the frontcourt. Schlenk shared that Gallinari's role in the team is crystal clear: he's going to be the backup power forward for Collins, who averaged 21.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists last season. Given his stellar third season, Collins feels that he has definitely earned to receive a max contract from the Hawks.
“When we’re talking max numbers and money, I feel like I definitely (am in) the conversation to have earned that money with the Hawks specifically, but obviously I know there’s business and we don’t always get exactly what we want,” Collins said in May, per Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But I want to be a Hawk, I want to stay with the Hawks.
However, given that the Hawks offered pretty hefty deals to Bogdanovic and Gallinari, the Hawks are running a little thin on their financials. Both parties expressed their desire to continue their bond. But things always change when there's money involved.
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