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The Brooklyn Nets currently look like a force to be reckoned with in the NBA.
Steve Nash is gone. Kyrie Irving is back. Ben Simmons looks like a useful basketball player and Brooklyn has won 9 of its last 10 games to move into second place in the Eastern Conference.
The only thing holding back the Nets now is injuries. Particularly, injuries to superstar Kevin Durant. Durant is back to playing like one of the league’s best players following an achilles tear in 2019. Since then, he’s battled a number of nagging injuries. But nothing overly severe.
Last year, however, he missed six weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Now he’s on the shelf again with the same issue. Thankfully for Brooklyn fans, this time it doesn’t appear so severe. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Durant will be assessed again in two weeks.
In the meantime, the Nets are looking to add reinforcement. And according to at least one source, they’re looking to do so with one of the NBA’s most explosive young players.
Brooklyn Nets Reportedly Pursuing Trade For Hawks Forward John Collins
Thomas Darro of Heavy.com spoke with an Eastern Conference executive who believes the Nets could make a serious push for Atlanta Hawks power forward John Collins.
“What you are seeing with Collins now is that the Hawks want him to be treated like an All-Star, they want a big-time return for Collins—not quite like the Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell trades, but something in that neighborhood. And everyone else looks at him like he’s a guy who is owed $100 million over the next four years and is having the worst year of his career. The Nets can build a package around Joe Harris to make the money match, and add in Royce O’Neale and Cam Thomas.
Collins is in the second year of a five-year, $125 million contract. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging just 13.3 points per game, his lowest since his rookie season. But he also averages 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game, two things the Nets badly need.
The 25-year-old is owed $23.5 million this season so the Nets would have to send out a significant contract to make the salaries match. The aforementioned Joe Harris makes $18.6 million this year which would offset a large chunk of the deal.
But you’d have to imagine the Hawks would want a number of draft picks to take on the 31-year-old sharp shooter who has battled numerous injuries.
Either way, if Brooklyn can add Collins to the mix it makes them all the more dangerous down the stretch.