His contract is great for 2 more years and then likely a disaster, so he’s only worth it if your team is a legit championship contender now
Collins is turning to one of those cases where for a player's first (couple?) hops; the next team think they can do better growing/using a player than the previous team. Outside GMs are always tempted by this. Especially if player was a high draft pick # and low age. In Jazz's case, they had a hit with Markkanen, but a miss on Collins. To be fair to Ainge, he didn't pay too much; bought low and if someone doesn't pan out for your team, at least try to know early. Pistons bought Bagley and Wiseman. Wizards got Poole. For the previous team, it takes just one buyer to offload.
Andre Drummond sounds good to me. Elite rebounder and his salary is $2-3 milli. 10-15 rebounds a game from him off the bench.
I think it's low too; but teams still do it. It's the next girlfriend/wife syndrome where they "i can change him". On the exceptions, most folks (including myself) saw Lauri as a throwaway in the Donovan deal. I thought he was another Dean Wade. Since he came from Bulls, him at Jazz was his 3rd team already. But he seized the opportunity. Another young guy (abeit lower level), that I thought career would fade out of the league was Aaron Nesmith. He was deep bench on the Celtics. I underestimated Carlisle, and Rick knows how to use him, his value is much higher right now. Nesmith was also lucky that he fell into a good situation. But those are more of the exceptions than anything else.
A change of scenery has does wonders for players on occasion. If the new team has a better coach and/or better culture, that probably improves the chances a bit I would think.
Kelly Olynyk would do a lot to stabilize our offense off the bench without taking minutes away from the guys we really want to have minutes. I'm still pounding the table to go get him. Also good insurance if Sengun misses any games (knock on wood).
Collins was always going to be a terrible fit for Utah. He's a PNR big man with zero passers. He's starting next to Walker Kessler in the frontcourt, with Jordan Clarkson and a rookie PG trying to run the offense. That's a much worse situation than he had in Atlanta starting next to Trae, Murray, and Capela. I think he'd do much better on a team like Indiana, which has Haliburton running the offense and a defensive center that can hit threes. Indiana's actually playing their own reclamation project in Obi Toppin in the exact same role Collins can play.
Maybe their younger players are pushing the “named’ player. Hendricks maybe able to produce at the same level for a fraction of the cost with a different demeanor.
Houston Rockets Trade Breakdown Change in Team Outlook: +3.4 ppg, +2.6 rpg, and +2.5 apg. Incoming Players Kelly Olynyk 32 year old, 6-11, 240 lb C from Gonzaga 7.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.0 apg in 21.4 minutes in 2023-2024 Luka Samanic 23 year old, 6-10, 227 lb PF from Union Olimpija (Slovenia) 3.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.3 apg in 7.2 minutes in 2023-2024 Outgoing Players Jock Landale 28 year old, 6-11, 255 lb C from Saint Mary's 1.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.6 apg in 8.8 minutes in 2023-2024 Jae'sean Tate 28 year old, 6-4, 230 lb F from Ohio State 5.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.1 apg in 17.8 minutes in 2023-2024
I think we should put our chips on the table if he does become available. He is young enough to fit with our core and he is the perfect frontcourt partner for Sengun, at least on offense. Spaces the floor and cuts/drives in open lanes to the basket incredibly well. True 7-footer. (Jabari at the 3 and Dillon at the 2 could help with the defensive side, assuming Jabari wouldn't be gone in this scenario.) Imagine a future lineup of Amen/Dillon/Jabari/Lauri/Alpi. That... just might do it for getting back into contention. I would try to offer something like this: Steep price having to give up both Jalen & Cam, but it's Danny Ainge we're talking about, so I expect the price will be high. Especially if we're competing with OKC. Dillon and Jabari both need to start anyway, and it's better than giving up Amen.
This, we would need to keep one of him or Jalen in this scenario unless we’re trading for a star guard.
Was double checking, when current Jazz head coach Will Hardy was in BOS (1 yr), he was one of Ime's assistants. Prior to that he was still under Pops. All this to say, if Ime and Will thought alike, it's possible Ime (and his other ex-BOS assistants) still knows how use Lauri properly. Good for the Rockets. On the trade itself, if Ainge asks for Amen (in place of Cam (Amen's salary is also enough, where Dipo's salary can be used in another trade)), would you still do?
Personally, no--we have other shooting guards and forwards, we have nobody in the stable to play point guard once Fred is done. An extra pick instead--Maybe? @Francis3422 @Snow Villiers I don't want to give up Cam either, but you gotta give something to get something. Jalen isn't playing well enough to be the only valuable young player in a deal for a young star like Lauri. For the reasons I mentioned above, I don't want to give up Amen. I feel like Ainge would probably demand at least one of Cam, Jabari, Tari, or Amen. I don't see much chance of beating OKC's offer if we decline, and for my money, Cam is still lowest on the totem pole.
