Boston Celtics: 3 Atlanta Hawks the C’s should pursue

John Collins

The final entrant in this list is one that fits the bill of a marquee trade target more than any other aforementioned Hawks. John Collins, at the ripe young age of 22 years old, would be the big-man addition many Boston Celtics fans and Boston media members feel the team needs.

Collins, like Daniel Theis, is a tad undersized for a center. That said, he more than makes up for it with elite food speed and springs in his sneakers. Collins is an elite rebounder and alley-oop finisher. Just recently, he recorded an astounding 20 boards against the Philadelphia 76ers–a team that has owned the Celtics with Saturday’s recent C’s victory notwithstanding–this season.

Collins would require plenty more assets to acquire than Bembry, and is under team control for at least the next two seasons. He is eligible for a contract extension after next season concludes, making him more of a long-term play.

A few teams have already inquired about Collins’ availability per Bleacher Report, and it seems likely that a Hawks team that is going nowhere fast would potentially shop him for significant draft capital.

The Boston Celtics have two first rounders for this year’s draft, and have intriguing pieces like Romeo Langford, Grant Williams and Tremont Waters that could be of interest to an Atlanta team looking to develop talent while also surrounding Young with low-cost players.

The fit is there, so don’t be surprised to see Collins and the Celtics in rumors together before the trade deadline.