The Atlanta Hawks just lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, and now attention turns to John Collins' future with the franchise. Collins is set to be a restricted free agent, giving the Hawks a chance to match any offer sheet he signs.

Collins could also just re-up with Atlanta without even signing an offer sheet. The big man addressed his future after the Hawks were eliminated, and he firmly asserted that he wants to stick around for the long haul:

https://twitter.com/zhood_/status/1411704846110052352

The 23-year-old is going to be seeking a hefty payday as a free agent. Collins may want to stay with the Hawks, but do they want to pay what's necessary to keep him?

Collins' numbers took a slight step back this season after Atlanta added more talent last offseason, but he was still an integral part of the club. The 6-foot-9 power forward averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in 29.3 minutes per game. He shot 55.6% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range.

In the playoffs, Collins' scoring dipped to 13.9 points per game on 54.9% shooting overall and 35.7% from 3. He did grab 8.7 rebounds per game and had his share of key moments.

Given his age and production, the assumption is the Hawks will do everything they can to bring Collins back in free agency. Even if they're not thrilled with matching a giant offer sheet, they don't want to lose him for nothing. Unless an attractive sign-and-trade presents itself, paying up and seeing how things play out is the way to go, with the potential for a trade down the line if the situation goes south.

The Hawks should be a contender in the Eastern Conference once again with the right development next season, and Collins can help them take the next step as Trae Young leads the way.