Making the Case: Atlanta Hawks
It seems like it would have made more sense for the Atlanta Hawks to make this deal before signing John Collins. On the other hand, they might be able to use his player control as leverage in trade talks.
When looking at the return, they get plenty back for their 24-year-old star. Hardaway Jr. would fit into what the Hawks like to do offensively because of his ability to shoot the ball from deep.
He is the type of guard that can complement Young well on the perimeter. The Hawks would also get first-round picks, which helps because their current direction is up in the air.
After a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, this is unusual, but that year might be viewed as a fluke. For this to be false, the Hawks will have to make another run this time around, but they do not have the pieces in place. It looks like a different team than last year.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 2 Trade Packages To Send John Collins To Mavericks
Collins remains the biggest trade piece as Young is the franchise player in Atlanta. The Hawks could fully commit to building around Young and send away Collins for a return.
