In what was more of a formality than anything, the Hawks have extended a qualifying offer to John Collins, which officially makes him a restricted free agent.

If Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul both re-sign with their respective teams, Collins will be coveted by many teams as the best free-agent available. That will work against the Hawks, likely driving the price up, but Atlanta can match any offer sheet he signs. Collins’ future has been discussed for over a year now, but we are nearing a conclusion. Free agents can begin talking contracts with other teams on August 2nd. Soon after, we will know if Collins will be suiting up for the Hawks next season.

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