NBA Trade Rumors: Hawks' John Collins Eyed by Pelicans amid Zion Williamson's Injury

There has been no shortage of trade rumors surrounding John Collins this season, and the New Orleans Pelicans are the latest team to be linked to the Atlanta Hawks forward.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, "the Pelicans have certainly registered their interest with Atlanta."

Fischer called the two teams "natural trade partners" with New Orleans interested in the additional offense Collins could provide and Atlanta looking for "defensive-minded players."

Collins could also provide injury insurance in the frontcourt for the Pelicans seeing how Zion Williamson, who has dealt with durability concerns throughout his career, has been sidelined since Jan. 2 with a right hamstring strain.

Sam Quinn of CBS Sports noted he is expected to be reevaluated in two weeks.

Collins is averaging 13.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the field this season. He often takes a backseat to Trae Young and Dejounte Murray in Atlanta's offense, but he is a double-double threat at his best.

The Pelicans wouldn't need him to be a dominant scorer given the presence of Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, but he would give them another option ahead of the Western Conference playoffs as they look to challenge the best teams in the league.