New Orleans Pelicans Receive: F John Collins, 2023 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2025 First-Round Pick (ATL)
Atlanta Hawks Receive: F Zion Williamson, F/C Larry Nance Jr.
With this trade, the New Orleans Pelicans swap a potential superstar power forward for a potential All-Star power forward. Obviously, that’s a downgrade. There are two good reasons for doing it.
The first is obvious. The picks. The Hawks compensate the Pelicans here due to Collins’ significantly lower ceiling.
The second is Collins’ availability. Not that his record is unimpeachable either. Over five seasons in the NBA, Collins hasn’t been able to suit up for 70 games since his 2017-18 rookie campaign. On the other hand, he’s been available for at least 40 in each.
Unfortunately, Williamson is a candidate to miss any given entire season. It’s difficult to know whether that trend will hold for his career. With this deal, the Pelicans cut their losses and acquire a quality player who complements the rest of their core.
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As for the Hawks, they seem intent on offloading Collins to land a second star to play with Trae Young. They accomplish all of these goals if Zion stays healthy. It’s a risk/reward calculus. If Williamson remains a liability, they’ll regret this deal. If he gets right, it’ll look like a heist in retrospect.
