How This Deal Impacts Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have to start maximizing the financial flexibility that they have. Miles Bridges is going to sign a lucrative contract this offseason and next offseason LaMelo Ball will be eligible for an extension as well, which looks like it will be a max deal.
One of the biggest needs that the team has is at the center position, which they will aggressively look to fill. In this deal with the Atlanta Hawks, they address some of their biggest needs with upgrades to the roster.
John Collins isn’t a prototypical center, but he has spent a lot of time there during his career in the NBA. He can bring some rim protection to the table and is a big upgrade on Mason Plumlee. Imagine the highlight-reel plays that he will have playing alongside a playmaker such as Ball, who has tons of highlights with Bridges already.
Kevin Huerter is a solid addition for the Hornets as well. He offers some more size in the backcourt and on the wing, providing more coverage for Ball on the defensive end of the court. The sharpshooter would fit in well either as the starting shooting guard or sixth man.
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Moving on from Gordon Hayward seems inevitable, it is just a matter of where he will end up. Charlotte gets some much-needed salary relief moving on from him and upgrades the frontcourt with Collins. That is worth a first-round pick in most circumstances, but they should certainly work on haggling that price.
Charlotte is taking on long-term money, as Huerter and Collins both have deals that run through 2026. Collins’ last season is a player option. P.J. Washington is a good sweetener for Charlotte to part ways with, as they should try and lessen the draft capital going to Atlanta.
