Desperation Trades for NBA's Biggest Buyers and SellersHawks Eye Oladipo as Missing Playoff Piece, Rockets Build Young Core
Atlanta Hawks receive: Victor Oladipo, Ben McLemore and 2021 first-round pick (lottery-protected, via POR)
Houston Rockets receive: John Collins, Cam Reddish and Tony Snell
The Hawks have been plotting their 2021 playoff push for a while. That's why they traded for Clint Capela at the 2020 deadline and then forked over major cash in free agency to ink Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn.
Atlanta remains in striking distance of the play-in tournament, but it seems a big external lift is required to position this group for something more substantial than a first-round cameo. A major move for Victor Oladipo, who the Rockets would reportedly consider trading, per Marc Berman of the New York Post, could be that boost.
The 28-year-old has had trouble shaking the injury bug this season—his second since rupturing the quad tendon in his right knee—and it shows on the stat sheet in the form of his forgettable 40.1/32.9/74.0 slash line.
But more often than not, he's looked the part of a capable offensive costar (20-plus points in 11 of 20 games), and his point-of-attack defense would help with the Hawks' biggest weakness (their 21st-ranked defense).
If Oladipo gets his legs under him, he could be the perfect backcourt complement to Trae Young. Ben McLemore would slot in somewhere among Atlanta's support staff as a spacing specialist.
Since the "if healthy" caveat needs mentioning with Oladipo, Houston would have to grease the gears of this exchange with a first-round pick. But that might be a sacrifice the Rockets are willing to make since they have plenty of other picks headed their way and could put a higher priority on more known commodities like John Collins and Cam Reddish. Tony Snell would simply be a money-matcher and quite possibly a buyout candidate.
Collins' ability to operate inside and out would help him play and develop alongside Christian Wood. Throw in the multi-talented Cam Reddish and the relentless Jae'Sean Tate, and Houston would have an interesting 25-and-under nucleus to start building around.
