NBA Rumors: A Price Drop In The John Collins Aisle, Shoppers

He's been on the trade block, it seems, ever since he agreed to a massive 5-year, $125M contract with the Atlanta Hawks in 2021. But there he is, still in the ATL.

That might be finally about to change, however, as the old first-round pick demand is no longer in effect. Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote today that the Hawks have a much kindler and gentler demand these days in trade talks for Collins.

Atlanta's focus is on landing a quality player (or players) in return for John Collins, but no mandate for a first-round pick, per @sam_amick. pic.twitter.com/mXt18oC1Ds

— Unbiased NBA Fan (@nonbiasednbafan) February 1, 2023

According to Amick:

Collins is the most likely [Hawks player] on the way out, of course, and... the asking price is known to have decreased significantly from recent years (per league sources, there is a focus on landing a quality player, or players, in return but no mandate for a first-round pick). 

Collins still has 3½ years and approx. $87M left on that contract for any takers. He's also averaging a greatly depressed (for him) 13.5 points per game, and a woeful 25.9% shooting from distance. The latter is a career-low by a long shot (he has a 35.8% career mark from long range), while his PPG is his lowest since his rookie year. 

There are still plenty of suitors, it seems, so we could very well be seeing Collins on the move by next Thursday's deadline.

Photo: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports