Miami Heat fans everywhere have been clamoring and slobbering over the potential of landing the subject of this foray. John Collins, of the Atlanta Hawks and a guy that played his highschool ball near the South Florida area, is set to become a free agent and the rumors are heating up.
While it may have just been fodder or a pipedream for so long and throughout the regular season, things may be closer to becoming a reality than most might have actually expected. Here is the report of interest, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Subscription Required).
"Across the league, many believe Hawks forward/center John Collins increased his value as a maximum contract-caliber player during Atlanta’s run to the Eastern Conference finals. In 18 postseason games, Collins averaged 13.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 35.7 percent 3-point shooting. Dallas, Miami, San Antonio and Minnesota are among the teams expected to show interest in Collins, believing he could be attainable as a restricted free agent, sources said. Hawks owner Tony Ressler said after the season that he hoped the team reached a “fair agreement” with Collins. Will the sides find that threshold?"
Interesting, very interesting, indeed. The Miami Heat might be in the list of teams looking to acquire the electric big man.
However, that doesn’t mean that they should. Here are three reasons why he shouldn’t be a target for them.
Miami Heat’s 3 Reasons To Not Target John Collins: Maximization
The Miami Heat are a team that is known to be able to get the most out of the least and do, on more occasions than not. They wouldn’t… or shouldn’t rather, set themselves up like this.
Won’t Be Able To Maximize Him
This isn’t a knock on either party, Collins or the Miami Heat as an organization, coaching, or developmental staff.
What this is, though, is a sheer observation. If you look at John Collins and the way he gets it done, it’s purely inside-out.
Though he was forced to play a bit further away from the rim on more occasions that you would probably want him to on any given night this season, due to Clint Capela’s presence, he would rather be closer to the rim more than he isn’t. That’s just it though, as Capela was there.
If he were to join the Miami Heat, he would play beside Bam Adebayo. Though Adebayo and Capela aren’t nearly the same guys, with Adebayo and Collins being, darn near, interchangeable, Bam would be the center there, as far as pure positions go.
Next to a guy that needs to be in those same close-quarters to maximize himself, Collins can’t be the guy that he is at his peak. That’s what you are paying for when you give him the max and the Miami Heat won’t be able to get maximum value on their dollar.
It’s evident everywhere, including his play style, Bam’s play style, and the fact that Collins’ numbers reflect that very fact when correlated to Capela’s presence in the lineup.
Miami Heat’s 3 Reasons To Not Target John Collins: Duplication
Speaking of Bam Adebayo, when it comes to how the Heat would be able to maximize Collins next to him, what about him… generally?
Duplication
For the most part, Bam and Collins do a lot of the same things. Ok, Collins shoots the three with great regularity and efficiency, nearly 40 percent on 3.3 attempts but you hope that that’s where Bam is headed, right?
It’s duplication. Even if that isn’t literal at the moment, from a trajectory or projections standpoint, it’s totally the case.
Though Bam doesn’t have some of the tools that Collins has now, there are quite a few things that you would rather have Bam do than Collins. The things that Bam has to learn though can be taught, learned, and developed.
On the other side with Collins and the things he doesn’t have that Bam does, such as a natural feel for playmaking, a certain level of natural girth, and a defensive savant-ness about him, those aren’t things that can be developed. For that reason, the duplication would be pointless, as you already have the better duplicate.
Miami Heat’s 3 Reasons To Not Target John Collins: Not The Ideal Allocation Of Resources
The Miami Heat need a three-level scorer, that can create for himself or his teammates off the bounce, more often than he doesn’t. That’s their number one need if you want to name one.
Not The Ideal Allocation Of Resources
For that reason, paying Collins the, aforementioned, max contract it will take to land him isn’t the ideal allocation of resources. In fact and with what else you need to continue maximizing the remainder of your roster, it might be irresponsible.
Knowing how a guy that can get his off the dribble on his own would impact the Jimmy Butlers, Bam’s, Duncan Robinsons, Tyler Herro, and Goran Dragics (if they’re all still there) of the world, to spend that money somewhere else is doing them a huge disservice. That’s why this wouldn’t be the ideal allocation of resources.
The Miami Heat aren’t loaded with cap or assets, when it comes to making a deal, but they do have some of the most creative minds in the business making the calls. That’s the saving grace.
That’s also why you have to believe that they’ll stay away from this one. There are quite a few reasons why, most would say, but these have been three of the most important reasons why John Collins shouldn’t be a target for them.
Even, for as explosive as he can be.