TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[mvossman]

If the argument is you should turn Wood into Collins because Wood is gone, and not because it helps make the Mavs better, then we may as well trade Luka at this point. Collins is a clear downgrade on Wood right now. It's the Mavs job to put their best players, not only in a position to succeed, but a position to want to stay. We actually used to have that a decade back. If we not only can't do that, but are actively sabotaging our ability to do it, we are a complete lost cause. I'm still thinking it's early in the season, and we aren't that incompetent, and the stuff with Wood will turn around and we will resign him. Probably naive, I know.

I think most folks who are in on trading for Collins think he is at least as good as Wood and a better fit.  They probably believe in his 39% 3 point shooting over the last three seasons more than the 21% he is shooting in the last 30 games.  They probably think he is a better defender at both the 4 and the 5, has a higher BBIQ and has less red flags.  They also may not be excited about the leverage Wood will have over the Mavs if he hits free agency as we would have no way to replace him.