Rumor: Suns Interested in John Collins
The Phoenix Suns are always looking for more.
It has been reported by Shams Charania that the Atlanta Hawks have re-opened preliminary trade talks revolving around power forward John Collins and the Suns are rumored to be a team that may be interested in his services.
"The Hawks have opened up preliminary trade discussions around forward John Collins, as interested teams inquire, league sources tell The Athletic. The Suns are a team showing desire in Collins, those sources have added, but they appear uninclined to take on the long-term money of Collins, who is in the second season of a five-year, $125 million contract," Charania said.
"The Hawks don’t have an imminent deal in place involving Collins, those sources say, and executives around the league believe a potential deal will be weeks and potentially months in the making ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline."
Collins is off to a rocky start this season averaging 12.6 points, 7.7 rebound and 0.9 assists. The 25-year-old is clearly capable of more but since the Hawks acquired point guard Dejounte Murray, he has been relegated as the third option. This is currently Collins lowest point production since his rookie season in 2017.
Joining the Suns could help Collins get back to his peak form that he has been accustomed to seeing from himself. The Suns have a gaping hole at the power forward position with Jae Crowder not expected to return to the team and Cam Johnson out 1-2 months with a torn meniscus.
Collins can come into Phoenix and immediately fill in that starting power forward position and add an element that the Suns have been desperately lacking in.
Unlike most of the power forwards on the roster, Collins can create his own shot and not only play a role as a big man but could stretch the floor for a Suns team that is known for their shooting. Standing at six-feet nine-inches, Collins adds height to the team and could be a force defensively being paired alongside center Deandre Ayton.
Collins could also emerge as the Suns' number two option behind shooting guard Devin Booker if traded to the team as 37-year-old point guard Chris Paul is getting older and as a result is taking more of a back seat offensively.
While the Suns may have to give up draft picks in a trade for Collins, young stars such as Johnson and Mikal Bridges should be off the table.
The Suns must act quickly if they want to acquire Collins since his value may be at its lowest point due to his offensive slump to start the season and could skyrocket if he starts to pick up the pace.
Currently, the Suns are the the two seed in the Western Conference with a record of 9-5. A trade for Collins could put them over the top as the clear favorite in the West to win the championship.
It's on general manger James Jones now to get the deal done and bring Collins to the Valley.
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