OKC Thunder: 3 players to target using trade exception

Player to target with trade exception No. 3) John Collins, Atlanta Hawks

As previously noted, adding a player of Myles Turner’s ilk could replace the role Adams held but another big man is simply more compelling…

John Collins is similar to Horford in that his preference is to play the power forward position but his style of play allows him to play either frontcourt position.

Then again, Daigneault spoke of positionless ball and the trend the league is moving toward in that regard numerous times in his media day presser. That means Collins might prefer the four but he could potentially slot in beside Bazley and down the road potentially with Bazley and Aleksej Pokusevski. Stop for a second and imagine that frontcourt – the sheer size and length, the cumulative skillsets of the trio in terms of playmaking, rebounding, and scoring.  Right? —  I’m salivating too.

There is a compelling argument to add Collins. First, he fits the timeline of the core group who’ll comprise the future era.  The other overwhelming reason is the Hawks added Danilo Gallinari and while Travis Schlenk stated he signed to come off the bench I’m not sure anyone is buying Atlanta paid Gallo $61.5 million to be a bench player.

More compelling evidence, the Hawks haven’t exactly been jumping to pay him the max extension he desires as per The Athletic scribe Chris Kirshner. Nor is the relationship between Collins and cornerstone Trae Young warm and fuzzy.  Rather, the Hawks seem to have made their choice to back Young implying Collins might be the odd man out.

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In truth, Collins fit in Atlanta hasn’t been ideal since Young likes to be ball-dominant and is the primary scorer.  Young demanded talent upgrades and Schlenk acquiesced with Gallo, Bogdan Bogdanovic as well as Clint Capella last season. In addition, Atlanta drafted big man Onyeka Okongwu who many predict will become the NBA’s next Bam Adebayo.

Factor in Collins’ 25-game suspension for illegal PED use to start the 2019-20 season and maybe it’s time for a change of venue and circumstance for the young star.

Would he thrive in a system that was less reliant on one primary scorer for example? Could his 40.1 percent perimeter efficiency on 3.6 attempts, 1.6 blocks with a double-double average of  21.6 points and 10.1 boards per game be a welcome addition for the Thunder? The answer is ABSOLUTELY.

The Hawks who seemingly are already leaning in the direction of moving Collins would also benefit. They entered this offseason as one of the few teams with available cap to outright sign free agents. But Schlenk made so many moves in short order it necessitated them walking back the Gallinari free agent signing and working out a sign and trade with the Thunder.

This coming offseason Collins will be a restricted free agent so a deal to bring the big man to OKC would mean the Thunder would retain the ability to match any deals in the offseason. Although the hope would be he’d embrace a deal to stay with this group as a part of the core. More importantly, his addition could expedite the Thunder rebuilding phase.