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OKC Thunder: 2 players to consider trading for using team’s TPEs

By Mark Nilon

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 26: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic drives against John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks in the second half at State Farm Arena on February 26, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 26: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic drives against John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks in the second half at State Farm Arena on February 26, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder trade options: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

OKC Thunder TPE Target No. 1) John Collins

TPE value: $7.37 million

First on the docket we see John Collins, a player TI has discussed quite frequently over the past several months as a potential trade target for the OKC Thunder and, most recently, a player in which our very own Tamberlyn Richardson discussed in great depths about why the front office should strongly consider pursuing him:

"While Mark Daigneault will do his best to affect some games via starting lineups and rotations the bottom line is this franchise has an ingrained culture of being competitive and winning. Sam Presti can’t make (or not make) moves with the goal of tanking or being ‘less than’. That would be a dangerous decision as witnessed by a number of young teams who are striving to build a culture. Ultimately, John Collins is the type of existing young talent Sam Presti should be inquiring about."

Now in his fourth season in the association, the 23-year-old is posting impressive per-game averages of 17.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and a block per game on 53 percent shooting from the floor and 37 percent shooting from deep.

Despite his stellar production and youth, however, it appears as though the Atlanta Hawks have been willing to move on from the power forward after he rejected the front office’s contract extension prior to the start of this year’s campaign.

Now, as we approach March 25th, the concept of Collins winding up on another roster seems to be growing more realistic by the day and we here at TI believe adding him to this current Thunder core could be an ideal scenario for the franchise.

Having the skillset to be a top-tier four while possessing the size to serve as a small-ball five, John Collins being a part of this rebuilding OKC squad could prove to be an absolute blessing as they enter this next era of their existence, especially if the cost is just a few ‘selective’ draft picks.

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