Grading crazy trade proposal between Pacers, Hawks, and Spurs

@8pts9secs grade: We would give this trade a B+. Here’s why:

We feel that the trade overall would work for the Pacers. John Collins fits a position of need that the Pacers desperately have if they want to improve in the upcoming seasons. John Collins would likely work well next to Tyrese Haliburton in terms of crashing the rim and the boards.

Chris Duarte would be the painful piece to watch walk away. However, given that the Pacers have a backlog of shooting guards and both Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin playing lights out this season, Duarte is the odd man out in a shooting guard rotation.

Daniel Theis was never really expected to play, and so losing him is of little consequence to the team. And Jalen Smith would have a replacement in the starting lineup of John Collins, and thus the loss is less painful than it could be.

Overall this is likely a good situation for the Pacers. We question whether the Hawks would go for it, as the return for Collins would be a first-round pick and rotation players. But if the Hawks were open, we think the Pacers front office would need to consider this trade.