2021 FREE AGENCY: Markkanen wants out of CHI | DAL "definitely interested"

[mvossman]

Don't think Tobias is a good replacement for Collins. He'd be a secondary creator, but he doesn't play above the rim and doesn't rim run at all really. He's also way more inefficient from 2. His highest EFG% is .561 in 55 games on the Clippers the year he got traded to Philly and that was with shooting 43% from 3. He is sort of like THJ in that yeah he'll take someone off the dribble for a mid range shot, but do you really want that... ever? Similar assist numbers early in their careers. Collins has way better inside touch and he actually does hit midrange shots, he just rarely takes bad shots which is why his efg% is elite. 63% & 61% in years 3 and 4. Better rebounder too. Ball handling can possibly be developed still which is the biggest weakness. Run offense through guards when Luka is on the bench.

After seeing the Slovenia games, it's pretty obvious Luka needs an elite roll man and more inside threats in general. Collins gives that plus elite shooting to stay 5 out so he's the ideal target of course. The rumors coming out still only have ATL giving him $24/year (likely with incentives) with most random twitter fans calling it an overpay so it's not a lock yet. If you can get Collins, then you probably look for a roleplayer rim protecting stretch 5 to replace KP in a year or 2 to shed that max salary cause I don't think you need much else from that spot. 

Not completely sure, but I think 4 out with an elite roll man is better than 5 out. So someone like Holmes works plus he's got a really long range floater too so he's not useless outside the restricted area. Still difficult to find a rim runner with good perimeter defense as a fit next to KP though. This FA needs to come away with someone like Powell with better defense or a 3pt shot. Nance looks like a decent cheap filler for a rim running stretch 4 if the weight loss illness stuff wasn't too bad. Nance with Bagley off the bench as a developmental project would be great, but would have to find a way to get rid of most of the bigs on the team right now.

I agree its not a good comparison, but Collins does not provide 5 out because you do not want him at the 5.  He was poor defensively in that position.  That is why Atlanta brought in Capella and pushed him down to the 4.  I think you lose a lot of his offensive value when you play him with another rim runner, but he needs to play with a true defensive 5.  Hard to find defensive stretch 5s.  I actually think he would be a great fit with Maxi.

Don't think Luka needs a rim runner.  He is elite offensively in 5 out or with rim runner.  What we really need is better rim protection, and if that means bringing a strong rim runner, Luka can work with that as well.