Atlanta Hawks power forward John Collins believes he is worthy of a significant contract, but the team has been hesitant to give him that sort of money thus far.

Collins feels that he is an important piece of Atlanta's young core. The former 19th overall pick made his stance clear in a recent interview with The Athletic:

“I mean, I feel like I am a priority to the Hawks in terms of my value in the young core,” Collins said. “I feel like that’s no question. Priority in terms of — I don’t know. I definitely feel like I am a priority to them. For a lot of money? I just don’t know personally. I feel like it’s been a unique situation, but I feel like my play has garnered a bigger contract. This is when you want to start comparing, but it’s just a matter of if they’re going to reciprocate the respect back.

“I definitely feel like I am in max contract contention. If I finish this season averaging 20 and 10, the other guys who are averaging 20 and 10 are max-caliber guys. I’m in that conversation and feel like I am worthy of being extended as such. That’s for the Hawks to decide and figure it out. If you want to look at numbers and flat-out play, I definitely feel like I’ve earned it. But the team situation, future cap and all that, now you have a contract negotiation.”

Collins, now 22 years of age, has played well for Atlanta. In fact, he's enjoying the best season of his career in the NBA. In 40 appearances with the Hawks (all starts), the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon has racked up averages of 21.6 points on 58.8 percent shooting from the field (41.1 percent from beyond the arc), 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 blocks in 33.1 minutes per outing.

Whether or not the Hawks will give Collins a max deal remains to be seen. The range of his value could be somewhere between Domantas Sabonis' four-year, $77 million extension with Indiana to Toronto’s max extension for Pascal Siakam, accordig to The Athletic.

If he is awarded the a hefty contract, Collins says he'll work hard to live up to it:

“I hope they slide me that sheet of paper,” Collins said. “That’s what I’ve been working towards. I’ve been trying to be a face of the franchise. To be that person and to be that face is what I’ve been working towards. That’s what I want. That’s what I’ve been trying to earn and trying to show them that I am worthy of it. I hope my work and what I’m going to try to continue to do is going to be reciprocated, and they can show that they’ve bought into me. And then I’m going to try to go to a whole other level and live up to that contract.”

The Hawks have options when it comes to an offer for Collins, who is currently playing on a four-year, $11 million contract. The team could wait until the summer of 2021, when he would be an unrestricted free agent. However, this option could ruffle a few feathers, as they say.

“I wouldn’t take it personal, but my antennas would be up, for sure,” Collins said. “If I can leave it at that. My antennas would be up.”

The Hawks will be back in action on Wednesday night, when they'll serve as hosts to the New York Knicks, Tip-off inside State Farm Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Let's see which route the Hawks choose with Collins.