Dallas Mavericks: 5 free agent targets to watch in second round of playoffs

Dallas Mavericks free-agent target to watch in playoffs: 1. John Collins

Mavericks fans were clamoring for the front office to attempt to acquire the soon-to-be restricted free agent before the trade deadline. The Hawks were not going to deal John Collins, though. They spent significantly to upgrade their roster in the offseason with the goal of making the playoffs. There was no reason to trade away their starting power forward. Atlanta now sits in the second round, but will they be willing to pay the luxury tax to keep Collins this summer?

The Hawks have the right to match any offer the 23-year-old gets this offseason. There are some questions about the likelihood of them matching a near max deal. Could the Mavericks swoop in and steal Collins?

Signing John Collins would mean letting Tim Hardaway Jr. walk in free agency. That does not appear likely, but fans should keep an eye on the young big man. Things change fast in the NBA, and Dallas appears set to be in contention for years to come. Do not rule out the Mavericks acquiring Collins at some point, even if it not this offseason.

The Dallas Mavericks are going to upgrade their roster this summer. How do they make it happen? Stay tuned for a busy offseason.