04-21-2021, 09:48 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-21-2021, 10:05 AM by HanspardsShowerVoice.)
(04-21-2021, 08:09 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: The thought of McCollum has crossed my mind (Schwartz), especially when Portland traded for a younger version of him in Powell. But, if Dallas wanted that type of player next to Luka, why not just sign Powell with cap space instead of giving up assets for McCollum?
The only reason I could see is Dallas wants to move on from KP and has other bigs on their radar with their cap space. In much the same way that Portland would be using their excess at SG to get a big, Dallas would be using their big to fill a hole at SG. At that point Collins begins to make sense (or maybe splitting the money between Holmes and Markkanen). I have no idea what other elements would be involved in such a deal if it were anything other than straight up. Both KP and McCollum are fringe all-star types (is McCollum now the best player to never make the all-star team?). It would be nice to put a little more salary in the deal (something minor like Burke). Obviously it would also be nice to get a 2023 pick. But, I really have no idea which team would rightly claim that they are owed something extra. KP has an injury history, but McC is older.
Yeah, that's pretty much my thoughts. I actually think KP and McCollum are a fairly paired match straight up when taking into account weaknesses, age and injury flags. Dallas interests would be they don't think Luka and KP are going to work long term and would rather have a high level ball handler and elite shooter to pair with Luka and "make due" with a Holmes type as a big. For Portland if looks like Zach Collins career is hanging in the balance, so if they think they can resign Powell then leveraging McCollum into a high level big might make sense. I'm a big Nurkic fan as a player, but he is coming off his contract soon and I'm not sure how much money they want to sink into him given the serious injuries and limitations.