2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[Mavs03]

I've said his name before, but I'm very intrigued with John Collins from Atlanta.  He's averaging 19 points 8 rebounds 2 assists 1 block a game.  He's shooting a sizzling 56% from the field, 41% from 3 point land, 84% from the FT line.  He's only 23 years old.  And apparently, he loves playing against Dallas.  He averaged 34 points and 10 rebounds in his 2 games this year versus Dallas.

Here's the dilemma for Atlanta.  He's a restricted free agent this summer.  Him and Trae have had their differences on/off the court.  Atlanta drafted Okongwu in this year's draft presumably to replace Collins.  Atlanta already has 100 million committed to players in 2021-2022.  Essentially, only 12 million in salary cap space.  I'm not sure why they wasted money on Bogdanovic and Gallinari.  Bogdanovic will be 29 and Gallinari will be 33 this summer.  Are they worth a combined 38 million dollars?  Heck no.

If you're Dallas, why not offer Collins a contract where it would be difficult for Atlanta to match?  Maybe 4 years 80 million...something along those lines.  I'm assuming Atlanta will pay Trae the max in the summer of 2022.  Atlanta at that point would be in luxury tax category if they pay Collins a lucrative deal.  

Starting lineup:
Luka
J-Rich (either he opts in or we resign him to a new deal)
DFS 
Collins 
KP

Brunson
Burke
Green
Kleber
Powell/WCS

I would love to resign THJ as our 6th man, but I'm not sure if that's possible to squeeze all that in to the salary cap.  I'd go to war with that team.  A mix of offense and defense in that starting lineup.  A decent bench as well.