Minnesota Timberwolves: Report links Wolves to interest in John Collins

The Minnesota Timberwolves have long been rumored to have an interest in acquiring Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins.

A recent report from Shams Charania confirms this interest as active, listing the Wolves as one of four teams besides the Hawks that may vie for Collins’ services this offseason.

Shams Charania: Minnesota Timberwolves have interest in John Collins

This is far from the first time we’ve heard about the Wolves’ confirmed interest in Collins.

According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, as recently as the trade deadline in March, the Wolves and Hawks reportedly discussed a deal in which Atlanta asked for Malik Beasley and a first-round pick. Collins, however, is a restricted free agent this offseason, so the Wolves wisely declined.

Atlanta, of course, reached the Eastern Conference Finals this year ahead of schedule, but now has to deal with Collins as a free agent seeking a max contract after the big man reportedly declined a $90 million extension offer prior to last season.

Now, The Athletic’s Charania is reporting (subscription required) that the Wolves, along with Dallas, Miami, and San Antonio, will all be interested in signing Collins in restricted free agency. A sign-and-trade between the Wolves and Hawks would also have to be on the table given the Wolves’ lack of cap space, although Atlanta undoubtedly wants to bring as much of their roster back as possible.

The Wolves will have to send out either D’Angelo Russell or both Malik Beasley and Ricky Rubio in any deal to bring Collins on board. It would be a tricky trade to pull off, to say the least, and entirely dissimilar from the situation the Wolves faced when they attempted to woo Russell in the summer of 2019 while carrying virtually no cap space.

In many ways, a trade for Simmons would be much easier to pull off, even if there has to be a third team involved. Or perhaps trading for a different big man, such as Indiana’s Myles Turner, would fit the Wolves’ needs without costing as much in either assets or actual salary.

It’s unlikely that Collins ends up in a Timberwolves uniform this offseason, but he definitely remains a worthy target and a name to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.