For the past few NBA seasons, the Atlanta Hawks have tried to find a trade partner for John Collins. Despite their continued efforts, a suitable deal has not come along for the young big man.
While some teams are currently fighting for the NBA title, most organizations are preparing for the offseason. With that in mind, the people at Bleacher Report have begun making “realistic” trades that could happen this summer. One of them involved sending John Collins to the Indiana Pacers.
In this hypothetical trade, the Pacers acquire Collins in exchange for Chris Duarte, T.J. McConnell, Jalen Smith, and a first-round pick. Atlanta adds multiple depth pieces while Collins gets a fresh start with a new up-and-coming team.
At 25 years old, Collins is getting ready to enter the prime of his career. This makes him a good fit for Indiana, as key players like Tyrese Haliburton and Benedict Mathurin have shown great promise.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: John Collins, Atlanta Hawks & Indiana Pacers Updates
From a fit standpoint, Collins could make sense for Indiana. He could be a small-ball option when Myles Turner is off the floor and could play alongside him. Collins didn’t shoot well from three last year, but for his career is shooting 35.6%. In 71 games last season, he posted averages of 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
Playing alongside an elite playmaker like Haliburton could do wonders for a player like Collins. The two make an instant pairing in the pick-and-roll as his athleticism makes him a constant lob threat. Haliburton’s selflessness creates a plethora of good looks for those around him.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: John Collins, Atlanta Hawks & Indiana Pacers Updates
Right now, the Pacers aren’t close to being a contender in the Eastern Conference. This makes a move like this interesting for them. At times, Collins has shown the potential to be a key player on a winning team. Rolling the dice on him after a rough stretch with the Hawks could end up paying big dividends down the road.
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