Atlanta Hawks Receive: F Doug McDermott, G/F Josh Richardson, 2022 First-Round Pick (No. 9 – SAS)
San Antonio Spurs Receive: F John Collins, 2022 First-Round Pick (No. 16 – ATL)
The Atlanta Hawks accomplish their main goal with this trade by clearing cap space to woo another star player.
As it stands, they’ve got Collins on the books for $23.5 million a year over the next four years. That’s a significant cap strain. Here, the San Antonio Spurs help them relieve it.
They’ll be moving back in the draft in the process. Whether the Spurs are willing to do so depends on how they value the incoming rookies in each range, and how they value Collins.
If they think they can unlock an extra layer in his game, they may not mind having a worse selection in the Draft.
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Meanwhile, the Hawks move into the top 10 despite being a playoff team. That’s a nice position to be in. It may verge on wishful thinking. Are the Spurs likely to be so enamored with Collins that they’d be willing to move a premium pick?
If not, there might be another way to land John Collins on the San Antonio Spurs involving a third team.
