Atlanta Hawks retain John Collins on five-year, $125 million contract

Collins was a restricted free agent, and after Young’s monster deal got done, speculation intensified that he could be on his way out of Atlanta, depending how the front office wanted to construct the roster around the superstar guard.

But considering the big role Collins had in helping the Hawks to a surprise Conference Finals run and how much room he still likely has to improve, they wisely took the plunge on the 26-year-old.

John Collins extension is a win for all parties involved

It would have stung quite a lot if Collins were to be discarded off such a stellar four-season run. He’s been sticking it out, grinding with Young and helping Atlanta build something special.

Young would also be a little nonplussed if he signed an extension, only to see his most promising teammate exit. Unless there was a clear strategy in place to chase another superstar, that’d be a really bad look for the front office.

After the first wave of free agency came and went, the Hawks were wise to just focus on their current nucleus — which still has plenty of potential to grow together — and re-upping with Collins is the latest evidence that Atlanta truly believes in the core it has.

Bear in mind, too, that De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish were mostly unavailable when the Hawks went on their improbable run amid a hot finish to the regular season, which they rode to within two wins of the NBA Finals.