Chicago Bulls: Re-drafting 2017 NBA Draft two-and-a-half years later

5. John Collins, Power Forward

Team: Sacramento Kings

Original draft slot: 19

All the struggles that the Atlanta Hawks are having this season can be traced partly back to the value that the former Wake Forest Demon Deacons big man John Collins brings to the table. A 25-game suspension for Collins put the Hawks in dead last in the standings in the East. There’s just too much on the shoulders of star point guard Trae Young early on.

In the five games that Collins actually played in this season, he’s averaging 17.0 points per game, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. That’s good for 0.5 win shares (an impressive mark for just five games played) and a 20.2 player efficiency rating. He has nearly 12 career win shares already and a player efficiency rating north of 20.

The value that Collins brings is clear, and the Kings would be lucky to nab him if Fox is already off the board. They did find a gem that they are currently building around in Fox, but Collins would still add valuable frontcourt depth. It might also change the draft strategy that the Kings would bring come the 2018 NBA Draft.

The crown that goes to the second best big man in this re-draft goes to Collins. He’s proving that he was way underdrafted in 2017, going at No. 19 overall to the Hawks originally. The Hawks got a great steal there. But Collins is clearly one of the 10 best players, so far, from this 2017 NBA Draft class.