New Orleans Pelicans: Four trades that would send Lonzo Ball to the Clippers

New Orleans Pelicans: What about John Collins?

This option featuring the Atlanta Hawks is another possibility.

The New Orleans Pelicans would lose Ball, but reunite with former point guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo hasn’t been overly important for the Hawks, playing just 25 games so far this season, but he displayed how important he can be for a team in last year’s playoffs.

Nicolas Batum has been reinvigorated after leaving the Charlotte Hornets and, although he’s been key for the Clippers, maybe they wouldn’t be so discouraged to part ways with him if they can acquire Josh Hart in return. Hart is a worse three-point shooter, but he also provides versatility on both ends of the floor and has a safe floor for the Clippers that is useful in the pursuit of a championship.

The biggest name to end up on the Pels would be John Collins. Collins is a restricted free agent this summer and there has been some friction in Atlanta over what contract to give him. It seems like the former Wake Forest man wants a max deal and the Pelicans could be tempted into giving him that. Collins’ ability to space the floor and block shots makes him someone New Orleans should be interested in.

If the Pels trade for Collins, they would need to figure out his contract situation in the summer. It’s a gamble for sure, but a high upside play. Trading and then extending Collins would leave the Pelicans in a precarious financial situation, but the benefits could be reaped on the court. The Pels could also alleviate this by moving Steven Adams when possible.

The Hawks likely want to get better as soon as possible and don’t want to lose Collins. Yet, they find themselves in the same situation as the Pelicans do in regards to Ball. Losing Collins for nothing is a lot worse than losing Collins for something.

Here, Atlanta would at least get a veteran in Beverley, two complementary guards in Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Terance Mann that can easily play next to Trae Young, and perhaps some second round draft compensation from the Pelicans in exchange for Collins.