Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins has been a hot name on the rumor mill, but said if he has his druthers, he will stay right where he is today.
Collins will be a restricted free agent during the offseason, after reportedly turning down a contract offer worth $90 million over four years. But he indicated he doesn’t expect to be traded, nor does he intend to insist on a max deal.
“For me, there wasn’t necessarily a single number. There’s never been a single number,” Collins told the media. “I’ve never said, ‘I need a max or I’m only taking a max.’ All I said with my play and what I’ve done, I feel like I should be in max contention or I should be in the caliber or realm of guys who do what I do on the court. That’s all I said. There was never, ‘Oh, I need a five-year max.’ I’ve never said any of that.”
Collins and the Hawks have been on a roll since the coaching change from Lloyd Pierce to Nate McMillan. Collins, 23, has obviously been a major factor in that, compiling season averages of 18.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.
“I just said I felt like I played myself into great position to be talked about with those other guys and be it as it may,” Collins said. “That’s what I said. I felt like my play spoke for me and I wanted to continue to let it do that but obviously there are different narratives that are being taken. There’s a lot of stuff that can be misconstrued when it comes to stuff like this. It’s just something I have to take in stride and keep going.”
As for the rumors, Collins has been linked to both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, among others. But is seems the Celtics have cooled on the idea of pursuing the talented forward.
