John Collins Rumors: Hawks Offered 5-Year, $125M Contract to Restricted Free Agent

Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty ImagesAccording to Sam Amick, The Athletic, the Atlanta Hawks offered John Collins, a restricted free agent, a five year, $125 million extension.Per Amick, Collins was offered a $90 million, four-year extension by the Hawks prior to the season. He declined in his hopes of securing a maximum deal in free agency. Without Collins signing to another offer sheet, it's not clear how likely that is. Atlanta could also be offered that offer.Amick shared additional details about Atlanta's most recent offer:"If accepted, this deal would not only be significantly more than what he had been offered before, but it would also be the largest ever on the 2021 free agency market from a lump-sum standpoint (Chris Paul's $120 million deal in Phoenix would be second). The average annual salary of the $25 million figure is third (behind Paul's $30 million and Kyle Lowry's $30 million deals with Miami; Utah's Mike Conley would be right after Collins at $24.1 millions)."That's some serious cheddar for a player that averaged 17.6 points per game and 7.4 rebound per game during the regular season, 13.8 point and 9.5 rebounds in playoffs andto his credit was a pivotal part of the team that stunned us all by reaching the East finals. Although it is not as much as Trae Young's maximum deal, nor Collins, it is still quite substantial."Young accepted Monday a rookie max extension of up to $207 Million over five years.Amick pointed out that only the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs have the cap space to offer Collins what he wants, but there is no indication that either team is interested at this time.The Western Conference is not looking like a contender for either team. Last season, the Thunder posted a record of 22-50 in the West. The Spurs had a 33-39 record and were bounced in play-in.Collins is part of Atlanta's core rotation, alongside Clint Capela and Danilo Gallinari in the frontcourt. Atlanta was a top contender in the league during a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Hawks lost in six games to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks. This could continue for many years with a young core.Collins has been offered $125 million by the team to be part of this run for at most five seasons. Collins may not be able to get a better deal.