03-01-2021, 02:00 PM
I can't see any scenario where Dallas lands Collins without including KP in the trade. The rumor is that Atlanta wants a lottery pick, and Maxi (or anyone else on the roster) certainly isn't going to return that.
But a KP for Collins deal leaves a huge hole at the 5, so you would have to get a stopgap center until the offseason. I think KP to Charlotte, PJ Washington/CHA's 1st going to Atlanta, and Collins/Zeller to Dallas would check all the boxes.
You would have to max Collins in the offseason which is somewhat risky, but I don't have the same long term injury concerns with him as with KP. It would also open up a huge amount of cap room to fill out the rest of the roster since Collins only has a cap hold of $12.4m. To throw out some possibilities, you could re-sign THJ for $15m, give Lowry $30m (apparently what he wants, not saying it will take this realistically), and still have room to sign someone like Holmes for another $12m.
Doncic/Brunson
Lowry/THJ
DFS
Collins/Kleber
Holmes/WCS
To me that's a much more effective lineup on both sides of the ball. You have a secondary playmaker who can defend and rim rolling threat in the starting lineup. You can go small with THJ at the 3 to jumpstart the offense. And you don't have the same glaring weakness in P&R defense that you do with KP.
But a KP for Collins deal leaves a huge hole at the 5, so you would have to get a stopgap center until the offseason. I think KP to Charlotte, PJ Washington/CHA's 1st going to Atlanta, and Collins/Zeller to Dallas would check all the boxes.
You would have to max Collins in the offseason which is somewhat risky, but I don't have the same long term injury concerns with him as with KP. It would also open up a huge amount of cap room to fill out the rest of the roster since Collins only has a cap hold of $12.4m. To throw out some possibilities, you could re-sign THJ for $15m, give Lowry $30m (apparently what he wants, not saying it will take this realistically), and still have room to sign someone like Holmes for another $12m.
Doncic/Brunson
Lowry/THJ
DFS
Collins/Kleber
Holmes/WCS
To me that's a much more effective lineup on both sides of the ball. You have a secondary playmaker who can defend and rim rolling threat in the starting lineup. You can go small with THJ at the 3 to jumpstart the offense. And you don't have the same glaring weakness in P&R defense that you do with KP.