3 Semi-Reasonable John Collins trade packages Hornets could offer Hawks
By Adam Taylor
#2 Hornets send Terry Rozier to the Hawks
If we’re being honest, it’s hard to envision the Atlanta Hawks accepting another guard in a deal for John Collins. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are the two primary ball-handlers in Atlanta, and Snyder will likely stagger the two guard’s minutes next season so they both get a chance to run he offense.
There’s no guarantee that Young is going to be on the Hornet’s roster long-term, though. In April, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported that Atlanta’s front office has the ‘green light’ to move on from Young, should the see fit.
"“With the offseason approaching, league sources say the Hawks’ front office has the green light from ownership to do whatever it wants to with the roster, which includes considering trade opportunities involving All-Star point guard Trae Young,” O’Connor reported."
Should the Hawks have any notion of trading Young – either this season or next – they could view Terry Rozier as the ideal partner for Murray. After all, Rozier has proven he’s capable of being an off-ball guard next to a ball-dominant ball-handler like LaMelo Ball.
Last season, Rozier averaged 21.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists on 41.5% shooting from the field and 32.7% shooting from deep. The veteran guard can play both the point and shooting guard position, and has shown he’s capable of being a solid help defender, and point-of-attack defender when called upon.
Atlanta would need to be talked into this deal. Young’s future with the franchise would need to be an open question within the front office. Rozier, though, could be seen as a potential third guard in the rotation, in a move similar to what the Boston Celtics did last year when they acquired Malcolm Brogdon – and that worked out well for them, before the ultimately traded Marcus Smart in the early stages of the 2023 off-season. Perhaps the Hawks could look to walk a similar path with Rozier, Murray, and Young, before making a tough decision next summer.