How This Trade Impacts Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have made virtually zero changes to their roster this offseason. They have yet to sign a player away from another team but have suffered some losses thus far in free agency.
The Hornets have signed only one player all offseason, retaining restricted free agent CodyMartin on a four-year contract worth $31.36 million. In addition to the situation with Miles Bridges, Montrezl Harrell also remains a free agent still.
That is two key frontcourt members from last season’s roster that have yet to be filled. Charlotte likely hopes that first-round pick Mark Williams can soak up some minutes in the middle, but they will need more than that and John Collins can provide it.
Collins has already shown that he can be a force when given the opportunity. Back during the 2019-20 season, Collins averaged 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game with 1.6 blocks. He is more than capable of stepping into a high-volume scoring role that Bridges occupied last season while providing more rebounding and rim protection.
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He could slide right into the starting power forward spot in the lineup alongside Williams or last year’s first-round pick Kai Jones. If neither is ready for that kind of role, Collins can slide over to the center spot with Jalen McDaniels starting alongside LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward.
Watching Ball and Collins in the open court would be a blast for Hornets fans. The price to acquire him isn’t very steep either, as they are parting ways with Kelly Oubre Jr., Mason Plumlee and P.J. Washington. Plumlee isn’t in their long-term plans and there is a chance that neither Oubre nor Washington are either.
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Jaylen Johnson is another player with some upside being acquired in the deal that could find more minutes available for him in Charlotte than he received in Atlanta. Acquiring the best player in the trade and a player selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft is worth the addition of the 2023 first-round pick via the Denver Nuggets.
