John Collins
John Collins would serve many purposes for the Lakers. He is arguably the biggest name available this offseason. At 23-years-old, Collins has already established himself as a versatile threat that can catch lobs as a rim roller or step out and shoot from deep. This addition would help the Lakers right away and give them an option for the future.
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Before the start of the 2020-21 season, John Collins turned down an extension with the Atlanta Hawks last offseason. He is a restricted free agent but knows that he can get more than the $90 million he was originally offered. It will be a chess game for teams after Collins.
The Hawks did not move him at the NBA trade deadline which means they could have a plan to match any offer sheet that other teams put out there. The Lakers would have to go above and beyond to land Collins but the return would be one of the brightest young stars in the game.
The addition of John Collins would balance the rotation even further. He would be able to learn from some of the best in the league and become a better player. Both sides would be able to help each other in a deal such as this one.
A sign-and-trade deal would surely need to take place in order for the Lakers to pull off such an addition. John Collins would need to sign for more than what the Atlanta Hawks are willing to pay him. Additionally, he’d need to sign his offer sheet with the Lakers in NBA free agency. At the very least, it’s worth the pursuit.
