For the last several years, Hawks fans were strung along in the offseason and ahead of the trade deadline with rumors that John Collins would be moved.
Eventually, Atlanta traded him to Utah in a pure salary dump. Ironically, the Jazz are also looking to move him already. Collins is back on the trade block, reports Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune.
“Perhaps the biggest surprise on the trade block is new power forward acquisition John Collins, the source said. The 26-year-old has the lowest on-court/off-court splits of any rotation player on the team, and the team has been frustrated with his slow uptake on learning the Jazz’s system on both ends of the floor. Collins has been a solid shooter and rebounder this season, but hasn’t contributed as much elsewhere.”
Hawks fans are probably very familiar with Larsen’s assessment of Collins’ play this season. He is averaging 14.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game while shooting 38.3% from deep, which is a drastic improvement from his last couple of seasons in Atlanta.
However, that’s not what you expect out of your $25.3 million forward, who isn’t exactly getting it done on the other end of the court. What makes this tricky is finding a suitor who will take on the two years and $56.1 million Collins is owed after this season.
Initially, the Jazz acquired him to potentially have him be a valuable piece of the rebuild or just flip him in another trade for a positive return. Now, it might seem not as easy as Utah thought.
More must-reads: