John Collins
The previous two exchanges see the Charlotte Hornets filling a position of need. This one sees them doubling down on a player type they already have.
Acquiring Collins may spell the end of PJ Washington’s tenure in Charlotte. That’s fine. Collins is an upgrade. They’re modern power forwards who can space the floor and defend in space. Collins happens to be a bouncier athlete with a deeper bag of offensive moves. He’d make the Hornets better.
He should also be able to co-exist with Miles Bridges in the same way Washington has. They may be primarily fours, but Bridges is a combo forward, whereas Collins is more suited for small-ball five duty than small forward reps. They’re both versatile forwards that Head Coach James Borrego could deploy in various ways.
Meanwhile, the Hawks have seemingly had Collins on the chopping block for some time now. This organization appears motivated to clear cap space to put a second star alongside Trae Young.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Intriguing Trade Destinations For Hornets’ Gordon Hayward
Hayward’s massive contract may not be desirable towards that end, but it is two years shorter than Collins’. The Hawks could make this deal with the long game in mind or look to re-route Hayward to a third team.
True, this trade still leaves the Hornets in need of a center. Luckily, nothing precludes them from finding one elsewhere, whether in the draft of the free agency market. The opportunity to add Collins to their fold may be too tempting to pass up based on need.
