The Los Angeles Clippers did big business to start the week off with a bang in the NBA. Reported by Shams Charania from ESPN, the Clippers traded Norman Powell to the Miami Heat, as John Collins arrives in L.A. to play with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. On the other hand, Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a Clippers’ 2027 second-round are sent to the Utah Jazz. So this begs the question: how will the Clippers line up with Collins on their roster?

Well the obvious thing here is they let go of Norman Powell, who was a threat on offense and their starting shooting guard. They have the chance to either use Patty Mills as their point guard and make James Harden play at the 2, or, experiment with someone else as shooting guard. Let’s take a look:

Option 1:

• Point Guard: James Harden
• Shooting Guard: Bogdan Bogdanovic / Kris Dunn
• Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard
• Power Forward: John Collins
• Center: Ivica Zubac

Option 2:

• Point Guard: Patty Mills
• Shooting Guard: James Harden
• Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard
• Power Forward: John Collins
• Center: Ivica Zubac

This is not the only move done by the Clippers

The Clippers also recently signed another big guy in veteran Brook Lopez. He will not only add size but can stretch the floor easily. Lopez is also an NBA champion so he will bring plenty of experience in key parts of the season.

The team also re-signed James Harden to a two-year extension. They let go of Ben Simmons, and as part of this trade, Norman Powell is no more on the roster. Powell’s departure is concerning, as he was a brilliant player last season. He averaged 21.8 points per game, second-best on the roster. However, this move is a sign the Clippers’ identity might be changing.

Is Lob City being reborn?

At the start of the 2010s, the Clippers had ‘Lob City‘ booming. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan were terrorizing the league, as the point guard was an accurate facilitator, while the other two were dominant at the rim. See the pattern?

James Harden loves three things in life: his beard, his step-back three, and alley-oops. With Ivica Zubac, Lopez and now John Collins (who is an athletic freak and excels at finishing lobs), you can definitely see Ty Lue’s team turning back the clock into more of a physical team.

The Clippers will still have perimeter shooters, Harden included. That is a non-negotiable in today’s NBA. Bogdanovic, Mills, Nicolas Batum, and Kawhi Leonard all shot over 40% beyond the arc. Plus, you added Lopez too, who averaged 37%. However, there’s a clear emphasis on adding size and presence to the interior.

There’s no denying that Simmons has a sky-high upside. He was a former first-overall pick for a reason, and he’s still quite young and could have a long NBA career.

But things haven’t worked out in Brooklyn, and they’re reportedly looking at a different kind of player. That’s why Sean Deveney of Heavy reports that they could call the Atlanta Hawks about John Collins.

NBA Rumors: Nets Could Look To Trade Ben Simmons For John Collins

“‘The Nets want some guys who can score, and (Collins) can score. But the only way they (the Nets) can really do something big, can really get someone who can score in there, is if they can get a taker for Ben Simmons,’ one league executive told Heavy Sports. ‘There aren’t a lot of teams where that would make sense, but Atlanta is one of them, because you need to build a defensive group around Trae Young.’

‘Now, if you’re the Nets, you still have to convince Atlanta that Simmons wants to play. Obviously, that is the question around him right now.’

‘The Nets like Collins, they had interest there even before they blew up the team, they’re still curious but they would have to do more than just Simmons in that kind of deal,’ the executive said. ‘You’d be looking at taking back (Bogdan) Bogdanovic’s deal if you’re Brooklyn and giving up a Royce O’Neale or Dorian Finney-Smith. Maybe too high a price, and maybe that is why they wind up holding onto Simmons in the end. They also have to ask, are you going to play Cam Johnson at the 4 permanently, can you play him with a big guy like Collins? But both teams are kind of in a holding pattern and even though it’s scary to do something big, that’s the kind of thing it will take.’”

Of course, there could be plenty of hurdles to get past, but if Collins isn’t a part of the Hawks’ plans for the future, this could be the ultimate high-risk/high-reward pickup for the organization.

There were rumors about coach Nate McMillan planning to resign, and there has been some discontent between the team and budding star Trae Young. That’s a recipe for disaster right there.

So, with them looking to straighten the ship, it’s evident that they need to make some moves. And once again, John Collins has been tied to multiple teams in potential trade rumors. So, here, we’re going to discuss the three likeliest destinations for him.

NBA Rumors: 3 Potential Landing Spots For John Collins

3. Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have struggled throughout the seasonand adding someone else who can carry the offensive load besides Devin Booker might as well be what they need to straighten the ship.

They could try and land the athletic combo/forward by finally getting rid of Jae Crowder, adding Cameron Payne and Dario Saric to match salaries. The Hawks would get two versatile defenders and shooters in return.

2. Charlotte Hornets

Gordon Hayward hasn’t panned out for the Charlotte Hornets, and Kelly Oubre Jr. is out indefinitely with an injury. Add Miles Bridges’ uncertain future to the mix, and the need for a small forward is evident.

Moreover, Collins would thrive next to LaMelo Ball, a guy who’d put the basketball just where he needs it. He’s a high-flying athletic freak and a better player compared to Bridges, who took his game to a whole new level upon Ball’s arrival.

1. Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz are looking to stay competitive and gather appealing pieces who’re not a good fit somewhere else. And pairing Collins with Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler would give them plenty of size and versatility.

In return, the Hawks would land two players who are a much better fit to their needs right now: Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. They’d get two sharpshooting wings who can hold their own in defense, so it would be a win-win scenario.

Now, given Green’s punch on Poole, they could be in an even more uncomfortable situation. They cannot reward Green with an extension right now, and he may have given them the perfect excuse to cut ties with him altogether.

With that in mind, and taking a look at the rest of the NBA and every team’s needs, Lee Tran of Fadeaway World claims that the Atlanta Hawks could trade for Green with a package centered around John Collins.

NBA Rumors: Atlanta Hawks Could Trade For Draymond Green

(via Fadeaway World)

“Atlanta Hawks Receive: Draymond Green

Golden State Warriors Receive: John Collins, Jalen Johnson, 2024 First-Round Pick (ATL)

(…)

Draymond Green could potentially make the Atlanta Hawks an elite defensive team, and give them four top-tier defenders in their starting lineup. The former DPOY is still an extremely impactful player on that end of the floor, and he was definitely the best defender in the league prior to his back getting injured last season. Draymond Green and Clint Capela would also make up an elite defensive frontcourt. Offensively, Draymond Green’s playmaking would help Trae Young get more easy buckets from the perimeter and unlock the superstar’s off-ball game.

(…)

If there is a chance that Draymond Green leaves at the end of the season, then trying to get a good value return is an optimal move for the Golden State Warriors. This package from the Atlanta Hawks gives them a player that can contribute immediately, as well as some draft compensation and a player for the future.

John Collins is a very good young power forward, who still has some room to grow. He is an efficient 3PT shooter as a big man, averaging 37.6% from beyond the arc over the course of his career. Collins is also a great roll man offensively and can provide supplementary rim protection as a power forward on the defensive end.”

The Dubs would love to have Green on their roster until the very end of his career, but that may not be possible anymore. In this scenario, they’d get an elite return with a future first-rounder and a serviceable, versatile forward.

As for the Hawks, they’d get a hardnosed veteran that could help them take another leap in the postseason, and it’s not like they haven’t tried to part ways with Collins in the past. This is the ultimate win-win scenario.