Phoenix Suns Trade Target Who Would Start in 2022-23: John Collins
The Atlanta Hawks were shopping John Collins earlier this summer and if the right team came to them with a proper package now, one would expect their front office to pull the trigger. Into the fold steps the Phoenix Suns.
Building a package centered around Jae Crowder, the Suns can ship out Landry Shamet and Cameron Johnson to make things even on the books. As a sweetener, Phoenix could also throw in a draft pick, with Bleacher Report‘s Greg Schwartz dropping in a second rounder along with the aforementioned players in a recent mock trade.
Collins promises to make a clear and immediate impact in Phoenix’s pick-and-roll game as an athletic lob threat beside Chris Paul. Shooting 36.3 percent from three last year, he will also stretch the floor better than Crowder, who is the assumed starter in his place until moved.
More importantly though, a trade for Collins helps the Suns maintain the long game, which seems to be a popular trend this summer with the team extending Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, and refusing to gut the roster for the aging Durant.
Collins is just 24 years old and his best ball remains in the future, setting the team up with a young, three-headed monster for years to come. Although some might view dishing out Johnson as something that works against the team’s future, this is a false notion.
Johnson may have fewer years in the league under his belt, but he’s two years older than Collins. JC is the youngest and arguably best player in this proposed deal. This would be a “win now” and still a safe move for the Suns.