Best chance is that on draft night there is a player available at 20 or 26 that some team likes but didn't think would be available. Desperation forces a trade.
I really like Collins. Some fear of him being a tourney flash in the pan, but I like the upside. Getting up to 7 means someone else might take him from us below. Minny (7), Sac (10), Det (12), and Den (13) might be others who have their eye on him. Thibs fwiw, has liked Turner for a while now.
I'm going to predict that no matter what happens I will try to justify it as being a good day and then be accused of being an apologist. At that point I will start condemning people for being Debbie Downers and to back away from the edge.
I hear ya, with the sample size being so small, but did you see the vid of him scorching the net in workouts? I can't help but think what we saw in the tourney is the real Collins, and he was just a late bloomer on the college scene.
Collins could just be a smokescreen for Markkanen. Can Collins play next to Nurkic? I think it's possible, but if he can't then you shouldn't be doing all this for what amounts to a backup.
My “gut opinion” of Olshey’s draft day plan based on the un-confirmed rumors and reading tea leaves. Olshey has two players targeted. He is fairly confident one will still be on the board @ # 15. So 15 will not be traded. The second player is probably going to be gone by15, so NO is looking for ways to move up. And he is whiling to use 20 & 26 and probably a player to move up. Drafting both of these players has a higher priority than shedding salary. Shedding salary is the last resort plan if no other trades happen that bring back more talent. Especially if the cost to shed salary is going to burn a first round pick. The bottom line is. NO has a plan, with several options. However, we are getting a least one player out of this draft that NO really wants.
Actually scratch that, if we manage to get up to #7 and still have a pick on our hands, I'd package those two and a future pick to move up to #4 or higher. Send that pick along with Harkless/Aminu/Crabbe for Porzingis and Melo.
Blame Mark Few for being one of the worst x's and o's coaches ever Brought his best player and the best prospect the program has ever seen off the bench all season and made him bang down low alongside Karnofski. He is the American Porzingas.
