Trade Scenario No. 2

Boston Celtics Receive: F John Collins

Atlanta Hawks Receive: G Carsen Edwards, G/F Aaron Nesmith, BOS 2021 1st Round Pick, OKC 2nd Round Pick (via BOS), BOS 2023 1st Round Pick

Compared to the last trade where the Hawks get two guys who can contribute immediately, this trade gives them assets for the future. Even without John Collins on their roster, fully healthy, this Hawks team could probably contend for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. 

With or without John Collins though, it does not seem like this team has the experience or firepower to be able to make it out of the first-round. Whether you are the 5-seed or the 8-seed, losing in the first-round is exactly the same, which could be the two scenarios the Hawks are facing this year. 

This team has a lot of promise and potential moving forward as they continue to grow, which is why this trade is set up the way it is. Carsen Edwards and Aaron Nesmith are two very young players that are perimeter-oriented players. Given the Hawks system of finding open shooters, both Edwards and Nesmith could develop into two role players off-the-bench for Atlanta. 

The best part about this trade for the Hawks though is the immediate draft compensation they receive for Collins. Not only do they get the Celtics’ first-round pick this year, which will likely fall between 20-30, but they get Oklahoma City’s second-round pick, which is likely to be one of the first second-round picks this year. 

With that pick basically being a “back-end” first-round pick, the Hawks get three draft picks with first-round value tagged to them. Atlanta could easily use all three of these picks to continue drafting high-level prospects, or they could package them together to bring in a big name player as mentioned before.

Guys like Zach LaVine, Eric Gordon, Victor Oladipo, Buddy Hield and J.J. Redick are all players who could become available near the trade deadline and fit in with the way the Hawks play. Having a shot to get one or two of these players in-exchange for trading away John Collins could ultimately prove to be worthwhile.