1. John Collins
John Collins is in the fourth year of his rookie contract with the Atlanta Hawks. He is a restricted free agent after the year and Atlanta can make him a qualifying offer. They attempted to sign Collins to a $90 million extension in the offseason but he did not accept. This could mean that he is interested in leaving or testing his value in NBA free agency. Either way, the Celtics should have him near the top of the list.
John Collins is continuing to improve. He is averaging 18.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in 47 games, all starts, for the Hawks. He is shooting 38% from the three-point line and this is something he has worked on improving over the years. At 23 years old, Collins has not even scratched the surface of his prime.
The Hawks know what they have in John Collins and this is why they attempted to get in before other teams. Collins also knows his worth which is why he turned down the offer in the offseason. he has been linked to many teams in NBA free agency but the Celtics have a good fit.
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John Collins is a versatile player that can do many things well at 6-foot-9. This would take care of Boston’s problem in the frontcourt and give them a big that fits into today’s style of play in the league.
The Celtics have a young roster but they do not have much depth. John Collins would solve that problem and keep the team competitive for years to come. He’d add a variety of different new dynamics to Boston’s half-court offense and it could be a real catalyst for them to recover their prior status as a top-tier team in the Eastern Conference.
