05-17-2021, 09:27 AM
I am really struggling to see the appeal of John Collins. Our two biggest needs are defense and a secondary play maker to take some load off Luka. Collins addresses neither of those issues while taking up most of our resources to do so.
I have seen some suggestions that Collins is a good defender. Historically that has not been the case and I think this year he is benefiting mightily by playing with Capella. KP is not Capella. Neither KP nor Collins are strong enough to handle the big centers, or mobile enough to guard the perimeter well. I expect a KP/Collins defense to be worse than a Capella/Collins defense or even a KP/Maxi defense.
Most of the scenarios I am seeing (at least the ones that include keeping KP) involve Maxi and JRich going out and holding on to THJ. That is losing two of three quality defenders we currently have without a reasonable way to replace them. A KP/Collins/Luka/DFS/THJ lineup is going to be awesome on offense but a complete disaster on defense. The bench will be thin too with Powell and Brunson the primaries (and neither a defensive stalwart). The Nets might be able to get away with no defense, but that is a wildly more talented team than this.
And if we decide in a year that an all offense no defense approach will not work? Not sure what our avenue is to change that. Both KP and Collins will be guys whos original team's did not want to pay the max for. With the two of them struggling on defense together and eating into each others touches I'm not sure either's value is going to go up significantly. KP is the most likely one to trade, but you are going to need a starting defensive minded center and a two way play making SG. Good luck getting all that with KP.
Collins is a luxury that we can't afford right now. We have more important things to target. Now if we manage to trade away KP and Brunson in a three team trade and get Turner and Brogdon back, then we can have serious conversations about trading Maxi+ for Collins. A Turner/Collins/Luka/DFS/Brogdon would be no question contender worthy (but the bench would be Powell and Green?).
This is why I think Holmes makes so much more sense as a target. He is half the price, he will not cost assets, he is our best chance at finding a compatible big with KP (similar to Powell last year but way better defensively), and a perfect replacement if we decide to move on from KP.
I have seen some suggestions that Collins is a good defender. Historically that has not been the case and I think this year he is benefiting mightily by playing with Capella. KP is not Capella. Neither KP nor Collins are strong enough to handle the big centers, or mobile enough to guard the perimeter well. I expect a KP/Collins defense to be worse than a Capella/Collins defense or even a KP/Maxi defense.
Most of the scenarios I am seeing (at least the ones that include keeping KP) involve Maxi and JRich going out and holding on to THJ. That is losing two of three quality defenders we currently have without a reasonable way to replace them. A KP/Collins/Luka/DFS/THJ lineup is going to be awesome on offense but a complete disaster on defense. The bench will be thin too with Powell and Brunson the primaries (and neither a defensive stalwart). The Nets might be able to get away with no defense, but that is a wildly more talented team than this.
And if we decide in a year that an all offense no defense approach will not work? Not sure what our avenue is to change that. Both KP and Collins will be guys whos original team's did not want to pay the max for. With the two of them struggling on defense together and eating into each others touches I'm not sure either's value is going to go up significantly. KP is the most likely one to trade, but you are going to need a starting defensive minded center and a two way play making SG. Good luck getting all that with KP.
Collins is a luxury that we can't afford right now. We have more important things to target. Now if we manage to trade away KP and Brunson in a three team trade and get Turner and Brogdon back, then we can have serious conversations about trading Maxi+ for Collins. A Turner/Collins/Luka/DFS/Brogdon would be no question contender worthy (but the bench would be Powell and Green?).
This is why I think Holmes makes so much more sense as a target. He is half the price, he will not cost assets, he is our best chance at finding a compatible big with KP (similar to Powell last year but way better defensively), and a perfect replacement if we decide to move on from KP.