Rockets: 4 trades to send Victor Oladipo to the Hawks

Houston Rockets trade package #1.

In this trade proposal the Rockets would receive a package centered around Atlanta Hawks budding star John Collins, who is averaging 18.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Like Oladipo, many believe Collins will be moved ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. The Hawks offered Collins a four-year contract extension worth $90 million, which he rejected, which is why he’s been so widely discussed as a potential trade piece.

In this deal, the Hawks would be able to loose themselves from the reigns of Bogdanovic’s contract, which is set to last through 2023-24, although the final year has a player option worth $18 million. In return, Atlanta would receive Oladipo, who would have to seriously consider resigning in the offseason if he and the Hawks are able to win a postseason series.

In Collins, the Rockets would receive a 23-year-old athletic big man, who would give the Rockets one of the best front court duos in the league, alongside Christian Wood. Collins’ athleticism would also be on full display when paired alongside John Wall, who has proven to have the same speed, athleticism, and court vision that made him a fringe MVP candidate.

Wood and Collins would present Wall with two legitimate lob threats offensively, and Collins presents a viable 3-point threat, making him a legitimate stretch four, which the Rockets could certainly use. Collins has made 37.4 percent of his treys, fresh off a 2019-20 season in which he made 40.1 percent of his threes.

For Atlanta, it would sting to lose Collins, for sure. But not as badly as it would have otherwise been had they not acquired Clint Capela around last year’s trade deadline. It’s important for the Hawks to get a star-level guard to pair with Trae Young and with a package of Oladipo and a first-round pick in this year’s draft, not to mention the ability to get off of Bogdanovic’s contract, this move would be a win-win for both teams.