Bleacher Report’s biggest loss of Hawks offseason

The Hawks haven’t had a very eventful offseason, but the Dejounte Murray extension is one of the best moves of the summer across the entire league. Atlanta signed an All-Star to a deal worth less than $30 million, while Fred VanVleet is making $10+ million more in Houston. The club also acquired veterans Patty Mills and Wesley Matthews.

There weren’t a ton of moves to make, though. The Hawks are cash-strapped after lucrative contracts were handed out to Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and now Dejounte Murray. However, the most obvious cost-cutting move was to trade John Collins.

JC had been mentioned in rumors for several years, but no deal ever came to fruition, and his value continued to fall. At his absolute lowest trade value, the Hawks’ new front office moved him and the rest of his $125 million deal. It netted Atlanta a measly second-round pick and Rudy Gay, who is no longer with the team. It’s not hard to see it being the worst move of the offseason and the biggest loss, according to Bleacher Report.

Trading Collins was inevitable if the Hawks wanted to extend Murray and give new deals to players like Saddiq Bey and Onyeka Okongwu, both free agents in 2024.

Still, a return of 36-year-old Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick is a far cry from what Atlanta could have gotten for Collins the past few years, especially before he signed his five-year, $125 million deal.

The Hawks did clear salary and create a $25.3 million trade exception, although this still seems like a disappointing end to what was once a promising career for Collins in Atlanta

It’s hard to argue. The Hawks sold low; it’s bad business. However, in order to make other moves, like signing Dejounte Murray to an extension, moving Collins was critical.

I had hoped the Quin Snyder-led roster would benefit John Collins, and the club could improve his trade value, then move him at the deadline, but Snyder very clearly didn’t see a path forward in that scenario.

I don’t blame the Hawks for moving Collins; however, it cannot be understated how poorly the front office and coaching staff have mismanaged his time in Atlanta. He’s one of the best humans in the sport, and I hope he returns to the 20/10, fringe All-Star guy the Hawks had a few seasons ago.

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Photographer: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire