Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal 

Firstly, when a team has been rumored to be trading a player for this long, they ought to trade them. 

You can’t convince us that Collins is happy in Atlanta by now. You just can’t. His name has been in rumors for too long for that to be realistic. 

Meanwhile, the Hawks could use an elite shooter like Hield. In fact, Murray’s poor shooting may be a large part of their functional issues this season. They could stagger him and Young by acquiring Hield and have them paired with an elite off-ball player in each instance. 

Finally, Hield’s deal is two years shorter. If the Hawks aren’t committed to Collins long-term, getting off of his contract has its own value. By now, it feels like a decision they have to make. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: John Collins, Atlanta Hawks & Indiana Pacers Updates

Hopefully, the Pacers will be acquiring Collins without any preconceived notions about his game.