There's been some odd rumblings about Collins wanting a max contract and ATL not wanting to give it to him, but I'm not buying that. I don't think Gallo has any bearing on what happens to Collins. Gallo was told when he signed that he would be coming off the bench and he was cool with that. I think it's a 3 year contract with only something like $3 million guaranteed in year 3.

Also, Collins can move over and play small ball 5 at times which would allow more PT for Gallo.

I'd be very upset if they got rid of Collins over a few dollars. What's the point of hitting on a later first rounder if you're not going to pay the guy when he blows away his expectations?

Looking at a rotation like this...

Capela/Okongwu/Fernando
Collins/Gallo
Reddish/Hunter or Hunter/Reddish
Bogi/Huerter
Trae/Rondo/Dunn

Only reason that I ask is because Collins is terrible defensively too like Trae. If they pay both huge Money is that a recipe for winning in the future? You can't have your two highest paid/ best players also be your two worst defensive players and expect to win. That may be why they are hesitant to pay Collins that kind of dough. I'd heard similar things about him wanting max or close to max money. I don't know about that one

I don't think Collins is terrible defensively. He's below average, but did show improvement last year. I expect him to continue to improve on that end. He definitely struggles guarding centers though which won't be an issue this year now that we have Capela. Trae is terrible on that end obiviously, but I'm hoping he is able to raise his d level to slightly below average. With his usage and small frame I'm not going to hope for more than that.

Hawks did address the D issue as as whole though so I expect their D to be much improved. Rondo and Dunn arfe both great defenders. Reddish is on track to be an elite defender. Hunter is solid on D as well. Capela can guard the rim which Hawks haven't had since Trae got there.

I know it's only preseason, but I have a really bad feeling about the Hawks. They looked like crap. Looked like a team with half new guys and all guys who haven't played since last march. And now word that Capela is doubtful for tonight. More importantly, they refused to extend John Collins. He's not happy about that. I wonder how that is going to affect team chemistry.


Hawks have a pretty easy schedule to start the season with 6 fellow lotto teams in the first 10 games, but I still think they're going to come out of these 10 games 3-7 at best. Hopefully they can figure it out before it's too late, but with a shortened season the clock will be ticking from day 1.

This makes me feel less confident betting them -2 tonight. I figured that line looked off for a reason

you're throwing money away if you bet the Hawks tonight. Capela now listed as out. Okongwu is out. Our only center is Bruno Fernando and he's awful. Rondo and Dunn both out, we have no back up PG. So basically the same issues as last season. No way they win tonight.

Not over yet.

3-0

Fernando and Hill are decent for back end of the bench guys

they give good effort

yep, no problem with those guys being the 11 and 12th guys on the bench.

Fernando definitely busts his ass out there. his problem is he was born with two cement blocks where his hands were supposed to be.

Except he doesn't go backwards. He just stops and dude runs into him. Foul.

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