John Collins has seemingly been in trade rumors for years. The Atlanta Hawks waited until his value was at rock bottom before finally trading him.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hawks are trading John Collins for Rudy Gay and a second-round pick. This trade is simply a cap dump for the Hawks.
It seems like Atlanta was just looking to get rid of Collins's contract after he was involved in so many trade rumors over the last couple of years. Gay could help this team as a limited bench player. The future second-round pick could be used in a future deal as a final piece to a deal but the most valued thing that the Hawks are getting in this deal is salary cap flexibility.
The Jazz have been looking for a talent upgrade in the front court and this deal allows the team to do this. Danny Ainge seems to be very impressed by year one of the rebuild and is looking to capitalize on that success.
Why did the Hawks make this John Collins move?
The incoming CBA will be horrible for teams that are in the luxury tax. Not only are there cash penalties, but now teams be limited in free agency and can't trade certain draft picks. The threat of the luxury tax was the reason that Atlanta traded Collins. Yes, it is a huge disappointment for a team that has dangled Collins in trade rumors for a very long time to not come away with more. But holding him any longer could have been worse.
Beyond that, the team seems to be in "deal-making mode". This move allows the team more flexibility to do that. With all of the rumors swirling around in Atlanta, it is a bit unclear what the team's next move will be.
The team could possibly move Trae Young this offseason or say yes to a Dejounte Murray trade if they are given the right return. This team seemed to be heading toward Young-Murray's future after trading multiple picks for Murray. After losing in the first round this season, the team's future is suddenly uncertain.
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