What does the rotation look like after bringing back John Collins?

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Jake Gordon | Last updated 8/4/21

Atlanta checked off their most important move of the offseason, inking Solomon Hill to another one-year deal. Jokes aside, we love Solo, but in case you missed the news — John Collins is back with the Hawks on a five-year, $125 million deal. The Hawks also made another move that I was a big fan of, inking Gorgui Dieng to a one-year, $4 million deal. While I wish Atlanta had brought Nathan Knight back, he is now in Minnesota, and Tony Snell is off to Portland. Finally, the Hawks have agreed in principle to a trade that would send Kris Dunn and Bruno Fernando to Boston for 3-and-D guard Delon Wright.

All sides are still engaged. Still a few moving parts and may end up involving a fourth team. But every team, and multiple players rumored to be involved, expect it to go through in some fashion. https://t.co/W72ouznu9H

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) August 3, 2021

So, for assumption’s sake, I’ll say the trade is completed as is. With the Hawks not bringing Knight back, they have another spot open for a two-way contract. I think that will go to Sharife Cooper, and Atlanta will bring in one more backup point guard. With that settled, what does the rotation look like right now? I’m sure Nate McMillan has his own plan in place, but this is my best estimation:

PG: Young, Wright, Mays (Two-Way), Cooper (Two-Way)

SG: Bogdanović, Huerter

SF: Hunter, Reddish, Johnson

PF: Collins, Gallinari, Hill

C: Capela, Okongwu, Dieng

Jalen Johnson is listed as a small forward on ESPN.com, but I think he’ll be more of a combo forward for the Hawks and see time at both the 3 and the 4. If he impresses early, he should move up the depth chart rather quickly. Okongwu is expected to miss at least the first half of the season after recently undergoing shoulder surgery. I expect him to back up Clint Capela when he returns, but Dieng should be good enough to get the job done until then. I think the Hawks have a move or two left before the offseason is over. Perhaps they bring back old friend Lou Williams, but I am not expecting any earth-shattering transactions between now and the start of the season.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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