Ever since word broke earlier this season of rumored locker room rifts between Trae Young and John Collins, Boston Celtics media has seemingly been working tirelessly trying to concoct hypothetical trade packages for Danny Ainge and co. to land the latter talent of this aforementioned duo in Collins.
Naturally, we at the Houdini jumped into the mix and came up with our own ideas of what the C’s front office could throw into a potential offer for the tantalizing big man because, frankly, we believe he’d be an absolute gem to have within the team’s starting rotation.
Now, with the March 25th NBA trade deadline rapidly approaching, time is of the essence for any team interested in the young baller to construct a proper deal and, in turn, try and entice Atlanta’s decision-makers to part with Collins which, at the moment, seems like something they are not necessarily leaning towards doing.
All things considered, it appears the 23-year-old will remain a Hawk post the deadline. However, this has not stopped the rumor mill from revolving.
Recently, Clutch Points came out with a piece discussing their opinions on the 2 best trades Atlanta could feasibly make involving the power forward and, interestingly enough, the shamrocks found themselves intertwined in one of said deals.
Clutch Points believes the Boston Celtics could offer one of the best deals for John Collins
According to writer Nicole Ganglani, a package centered around Marcus Smart, a few young players, and two future picks could be enough to entice General Manager Travis Schlenk to part ways with the fourth-year pro.
The exact trade proposed reads as follows:
Citing the C’s need for big man help and Atlanta’s desire to add more backcourt depth, Ganglani went on to state that this specific deal is the best trade scenario for both parties:
"Collins, who averaged 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season, scores best through low-maintenance cuts and putbacks for the Hawks. His defense can also spark the Celtics’ frontcourt and help them increase their chances to go up against the superior teams in the east.As for the Hawks, they can add more backcourt depth with the addition of Smart and rookie Payton Pritchard. The team clearly wants to make a playoff push this season and the additional firepower of these two players could help do that. Imagine a backcourt with Trae Young and Smart paired with a reliable big man like Clint Capela—the Hawks can really boost their roster with this. In addition, they will be receiving the Celtics’ draft rights for Collins specifically their first-round pick (likely to fall in between 20-30) and their 2023 first-round pick which they may use as assets in other trade transactions."
Now, obviously, the idea of trading away Smart, the lifeblood of Celtics basketball, would be a tough pill to swallow. Having said that, we cannot sit here and honestly say we haven’t discussed the idea before, specifically in regard to a trade for the Hawks’ big man.
If Boston truly wishes to pursue the likes of John Collins, it’ll cost a pretty penny — perhaps prettier than what fans want.
Ganglani’s proposal, though steep, is likely within the ballpark of what it would realistically take to pry the young and talented stretch big from Atlanta’s grasp.
What do you think?
Is such a deal worth it? Should Boston stay away from a move for Collins altogether?
Whatever your thoughts may be, share them in the comments section below.