3 Semi-Reasonable John Collins trade packages Hornets could offer Hawks

#3 Hornets sign-and-trade PJ Washinton to the Atlanta Hawks

In order for this trade to work, the Atlanta Hawks would have to accept being hard-capped for the upcoming season. Under CBA rules, any team who receives a player via a sign-and-trade becomes hard-capped for the upcoming season. However, adding a young and impactful wing like PJ Washington could be worth the hastle.

Washington projects to have multiple suitors this offseason, and isn’t guaranteed to return to Charlotte next season. Atlanta clear don’t see a long-term future for John Collins. Swapping the two, and acquiring draft assets in the process, could be viewed as a win both both sides.

Collins is the better player in this deal. Washington is a better fit for what Atlanta want to do in terms of playing style. Snyder likes motion offense with off-ball movement and intelligent screening. Washington has proven capable of being a pick-and-pop threat, along with flashing upside of attacking close-out’s off the dribble.

If the Hawks aren’t interested in packages built around Hayward or Rozier, then trying to build something around Washington makes sense – especially because Atlanta would have him under team control for multiple years.

The fact is, Collins has been on the trade block for multiple years at this point, but the Hawks have never pulled the trigger on a deal. Maybe now, with Snyder having a say in player personnel decisions, the Hornets could find a way to acquire Collins and further strengthen their young and improving roster.

Acquring Collins is somewhat of a longshot. Yet, Kupchak should at least be exploring every possibility, considering how Collins could improve Steve Clifford’s team moving forward.