The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to make some additions ahead of the NBA trade deadline and John Collins is a name that has come up. Collins would be a very intriguing fit for the Timberwolves alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the front-court and could very well be available.
Collins has run into some issues with the Atlanta Hawks. He has butted heads with star point guard Trae Young and doesn’t seem to be too happy with the franchise. That could lead to a trade ahead of the deadline.
A league scout spoke to NBA Analysis Network and provided some thoughts on how John Collins would potentially fit with the Timberwolves. Offensively, there’s a lot to like about how he would fit with Karl-Anthony Towns.
“John Collins would be an intriguing fit offensively since he is a dynamic roll threat that can step out and hit three’s in pick-and-pop and in spot-up. The Timberwolves would have incredible spacing for high ball screens and would be able to pick on mismatches, especially after switches.”
“There’s a lot to like about Collins’ game and how much he’s improved in recent seasons. However, he’s best suited alongside an elite passer. The Timberwolves wouldn’t really have that type of talent aside from Ricky Rubio, but he’s not a long-term answer.”
While offense has become incredibly important in today’s NBA, it’s still important to get the job done defensively. This is where the scout sees potential problems for the Timberwolves.
“The focus for the Timberwolves needs to be on the defensive side of the ball. Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t fluid enough of an athlete to be an impactful rim protector and needs someone at the four spot who can bring versatility to the table. Someone like Thaddeus Young. Clint Capela has helped to cover up Collins’ shortcomings defensively in ways that someone like Towns wouldn’t be capable of achieving.”
That is a lot of intriguing information and there are a lot of things to like and not like about the Timberwolves potentially acquiring John Collins. He would be solid offensively, but would lack heavily on the defensive side of the ball.
So far this season with the Hawks in 37 games, Collins has averaged 17.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. He has shot 53.2 percent from the floor overall and has knocked down 37.6 percent from the three-point line. Those offensive numbers would look great for the Timberwolves.
However, this isn’t a clearcut and obvious deal for Minnesota. There are some drawbacks that they should take a long look at.
Don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves make a move ahead of the trade deadline. They are looking to improve their roster and they love the idea of acquiring Collins from the Hawks. It isn’t a perfectly safe move, but it would be interesting to see how it worked out.
