Butler: ‘This close’ to rejoining Timberwolves

In a long-coming Instagram post, John Collins thanked the fans and city of Atlanta for supporting him during his time with the Atlanta Hawks. Collins also indicated he was ready for a new opportunity.

“This one definitely stung… But as I see it, it is this hawks time to fly away from the nest. As my growth here is being stunted,” Collins wrote.

The Hawks traded John Collins and the remaining three years and $78.5 million on his contract to the Utah Jazz this offseason. For Atlanta, it was a way to balance their cap sheet, as the Hawks were pushing in on the luxury tax with Collins on the roster. The Hawks received Rudy Gay and a conditional second-round pick in the deal. Gay was traded again to the Oklahoma City Thunder and subsequently waived.