John Collins

Both the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets suffered quick exits from the 2022 postseason and should be looking to make serious improvements this summer. The Hawks failed to improve on their Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2021, and the flaws in their roster were made glaringly obvious.

Without an elite defensive backline behind Trae Young, the Hawks shouldn’t expect any sustained postseason success regardless of how excellent Young grows to become. His defensive shortcomings create a tricky tight rope for Hawks GM Travis Schlenke to have to navigate in order to build a true contender around him. Moving John Collins could make sense as a result.

Young’s at his absolute best when he’s surrounded by shooters and complementary offensive pieces, but they also have to be plus defenders to cover for his limited stature and lack of defensive resistance.

Pairing him with a high-level playmaker and someone who can put pressure on the rim while shutting down opponents on defense should be the key to unlocking the Hawks’ potential. That player might just be Ben Simmons, not John Collins.

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In return, the Brooklyn Nets nab John Collins who may be a lesser player than Ben Simmons on both ends of the court but should be a better complement to Durant and Irving and would certainly be more reliable and available than Ben10.