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Proposals, pros, and cons for the top John Collins trade rumors

By Joshua Buckhalter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 21: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after hitting a three-point basket against the Miami Heat during the first half at State Farm Arena on January 21, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 21: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after hitting a three-point basket against the Miami Heat during the first half at State Farm Arena on January 21, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Pros and Cons of trading for Christian Wood

The second option from our Collins piece from last June, Christian Wood finds himself in a similar situation to Grant. He’s on a young team with a top draft pick at guard in Jalen Green (Grant has Cade Cunningham) and little in the way to get him the numbers or wins he was seeking when he since being traded from Detroit.

His scoring is down this season at 17.4 points per game and he’s shooting 48.2 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from downtown.

The efficiency numbers are his worst since his first and third seasons in the NBA, respectively.

He is averaging career-highs  with10.2 boards and 2.1, though. And he’s averaged 19.7 points, and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 52.9 percent overall and 44.2 percent from deep since returning from a one-game absence after getting injured on New Year’s Day.

Wood also provides a nice pivot from Towns who is even less likely than before with the Minnesota Timberwolves currently seventh in the West.

That isn’t an issue with the cellar-dwelling Houston Rockets

The complications in this proposal lie in matching value with salary. Collins is certainly a better player than Wood. But is he so much better that it would be worth Houston parting with a talented defender in Nwaba to facilitate the deal? The 29-year-old is a terrific defender and is on a team-friendly contract for next season with a team option for the following year.

Do the Hawks need Nwaba? Probably not but you can never have too many perimeter defenders.

The questions with Wood are in his long-term position – he had his best season with Detriot as a power forward but has been the Rockets center for the last two seasons. That might not be a detriment though depending on what they plan to do with Clint Capela in the offseason.

Together, Wood and Capela would be an intimidating duo for opposing guards to navigate on their way to the rim. Wood would also fit well next to Onyeka Okongwu.

Wood’s ceiling is lower than Collins as a less mobile, less skilled option. But that can sometimes be beneficial too. There are no misconceptions about what Wood is as a player and that can lead to clearer, more-defined roles which lead to a more fluid operation all around. It isn’t apples to apples, but this is kind of what has happened since the Reddish trade.

Next. The Hawks upcoming homestand is critical for turnaround. dark

As we said in the original posting, this would probably be the least disruptive move given what Wood brings to the table skill set-wise.

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