Should The Pacers Trade Malcolm Brogdon For John Collins?
Rumblings about a potential trade involving Indiana Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon and Atlanta Hawks power forward John Collins have gained serious traction over the past few days.
The two biggest names being involved in trade chatter right now:
Malcolm Brogdon and John Collins
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) June 23, 2022
Should Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard pull the trigger on this one?
Let’s break down the potential pros and cons of a Brogdon-for-Collins deal.
The Case For A Potential Brogdon-Collins Trade
Brogdon has never played more than 56 regular-season games since he first donned Pacers Blue and Gold in the 2019-20 NBA season.
It’s been a recurring theme in his six-year NBA career dating back to his days with the Milwaukee Bucks.
He just cannot stay healthy.
Interestingly enough, Collins has never completed an 82-game regular season since he broke into the professional ranks in 2017.
If the Pacers trade Brogdon for Collins, both players will benefit from a change of scenery.
Hopefully, their durability will improve when they switch places.
The swap will benefit Brogdon more from a personal standpoint since he’s an Atlanta native.
It’s clear the Pacers’ building blocks are Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte, Isaiah Jackson, Oshae Brissett, and rookie Bennedict Mathurin.
Indy will have a solid point guard rotation with Haliburton, T.J. McConnell, and Duane Washington, Jr. next season.
If Brogdon bolts town, Haliburton will bear more of the scoring load.
Washington, who averaged a solid 9.9 points in 48 games off the bench last season, will also have a bigger role.
Acquiring Collins will give Indiana a solid frontcourt which also includes Myles Turner, Jackson, and Brissett.
While Jackson and Collins aren’t as imposing and intimidating as Dale and Antonio Davis, they will become a formidable frontcourt tandem for head coach Rick Carlisle.
Collins is solid off the pick-and-roll – he has been a regular fixture on SportsCenter highlight reels for five years with the Hawks.
🚨NBA FREE AGENCY NEWS🚨
A source VERY close to John Collins says, “He is done in Atlanta.” Teams that have shown interest according to @TheAtlantic, Pacers, Nets, & Wizards. I also heard Boston inquired about Collins as well. #NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/Ry1rLYFM63
— The Sharpe Sports Report (@Sharpes_Report) June 26, 2022
It should also be fun watching Haliburton and Collins pairing up for regular alley-oops for the Pacers.
Collins averaged career bests of 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game with the Hawks in 2019-20.
Unfortunately, his role has diminished in subsequent seasons.
Don’t take it the wrong way, though – Collins is still a potential double-double threat.
After all, he’s just 24 years old and has plenty of basketball left in him.
Collins and Mathurin will make the Pacers’ young core more athletic – those two guys display excellent athleticism on both ends of the court.
If Pritchard and Co. somehow pry Collins away from the Hawks, he will become an integral part of the postseason aspirations in the next few years.
The Case Against A Potential Trade
There isn’t a serious case against a Brogdon-Collins trade.
Both players’ roles have decreased in recent years – they would benefit from a change of scenery in the 2022-23 NBA campaign.
From a financial standpoint, their salaries aren’t that far apart so the trade makes sense.
Brogdon will make $22.6 million while Collins will earn $23.5 million next season.
Should Collins play in Indiana in 2022-23, he will help the Pacers take a huge step in the right direction.
Go ahead, Mr. Pritchard – make the deal.
Yes, the Pacers should trade Brogdon for Collins.