One team that is shaping up to be very active this NBA offseason is the Portland Trail Blazers. After having a fire sale at the trade deadline, they are now armed with a ton of cap space, a lottery pick, and enticing young players.
With Damian Lillard still under contract long-term, the Blazers have no intentions of gearing up for a rebuild. Instead, they plan to reshape their roster this summer and put a new supporting cast around their franchise cornerstone.
We have now reached the time of year when free agency rumors start to pop up in a frenzy. So far, most of the players linked to Portland are defensive-minded wing players like Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant. In a recent article for The Ringer, Kevin O’Connor mentioned Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins as a possible target for them via trade.
“One other player frequently mentioned to be on Portland’s radar is Atlanta’s John Collins, who is a lob threat that could provide more defensive versatility than Jusuf Nurkic.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Atlanta Hawks Predicted To Trade John Collins, Portland Trail Blazers Linked?
Collins, 24, appeared in 54 games for the Hawks this season and averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks. He also shot an effective 36.4% from beyond the arc on slightly over three attempts per game.
From a fit perspective, Collins makes sense for Portland as they attempt to roll out a new look. He is physical around the rim, can guard forwards and bigs, and can be a great partner with Lillard in the pick-and-roll. Along with being a stretch big, Collins would give the Portland Trail Blazers the flexibility to play smaller lineups and play five out to open the floor.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Atlanta Hawks Predicted To Trade John Collins, Portland Trail Blazers Linked?
When the Atlanta Hawks made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, John Collins was a key piece in their success. Prying him from Atlanta might not be easy, but Portland might be able to facilitate a deal given their new pool of assets.
