NBA Trade Rumors: 3 best destinations for John Collins

John Collins destination No. 2: San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs would be able to offer Collins the larger offensive role that he’s asking for. At 16-27, San Antonio’s in the midst of a rebuild, with multiple young players growing on a game-to-game basis. A young core of Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Derrick White, and Devin Vassell, have the potential to make noise in a few years.

The Spurs could speed up the rebuilding process by formulating a trade for Collins, an offensive option in the frontcourt for the team’s young ball-handlers. Both Murray and White would succeed with a more productive roll man – while Jakob Poeltl has made strides as a player, he can’t compare to Collins’ finishing ability and athleticism.

A trade centering around Collins and Derrick White would be intriguing for both sides, as the Hawks pick up another on-ball creator to play alongside Trae Young, while the Spurs begin to build a more dynamic offense. Centering their rebuild around a tandem of Dejounte Murray and Collins would help bring direction to their roster and timeline.

Murray, Johnson, and Vassell are all capable defenders, with the former rising to all-defensive levels, and are all locked up for at least the next three years considering restricted free agency. Add the five years from John Collins’ contract, and the San Antonio Spurs could be looking at the next core for their perennial playoff appearances.

With Derrick White being the oldest of their young core at age 27, it makes sense to move on from him to move back your contending timeline to align with the rest of your roster. With both Johnson and Vassell under 23, there’s no need to rush the process.