It looks like the Cam Reddish trade was indeed the very beginning of some substantial changes within the Hawks organization. Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reported earlier today that there is a “real possibility” that John Collins is moved before the trade deadline, and he’s not the only one suggesting Collins could be out of Atlanta before even finishing the first season of a five-year contract extension. The Action Network is also reporting that Collins could be moved, and so might shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic.
It will be interesting to see how the Hawks go about this. Outside of Trae Young, Collins is the most valuable player on the roster. Even if he isn’t quite an All-Star, he’s an ultra-efficient power-forward that can spread the floor and do a little bit of everything.
Bogdanovic’s value is far lower than it was at the beginning of the season. He hasn’t been his typical self as a shooter and has also battled injuries. The remaining $36 million left on his contract after this season doesn’t make Bogdanovic any more appealing either. But assuming he can stay healthy, several teams will be interested based on his track record alone.
If they choose to do so, the Hawks will have no problem finding new homes for each player, but it’s possible they are looking for just one buyer. It was reported a couple of weeks ago that the Hawks are looking to make a two-for-one type trade. I imagine several teams looking to compete now would be interested in acquiring both Collins and Bogdanovic, but the Hawks would have to be getting an All-Star caliber player in return. That’s what makes a trade like this so challenging to complete. However, some teams are currently out there with disgruntled superstars, which may be who Schlenk is targeting leading up to the deadline.
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