It’s the same song and dance, folks. The Hawks’ John Collins might be the most mentioned player in trade rumors in the history of the NBA. Every single week a league insider has a different variation of the same story — “[_____] are interested in trading for John Collins.” And it continues today with The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting the Jazz are the most active team in pursuing a potential trade.
“The Utah Jazz have been the most engaged team recently on a potential John Collins trade, league sources say. The Washington Wizards have also been among the teams expressing interest in Collins. The Jazz have two pieces in Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt that could interest the Hawks,” Charania reported.
This isn’t anything new. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported the framework of a potential deal, which would send Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to Atlanta in exchange for John Collins; however, Utah has lobbied for a first-round pick to be included, which the Hawks are obviously hesitant to do.
Beasley is a microwave scorer and Atlanta native; he’d immediately improve the team’s second unit. Vanderbilt is a similar player to Collins — an efficient power forward with the ability to stretch the floor. I would be all for a two-for-one swap because it is evident that either Collins doesn’t fit the current makeup of the roster or Nate McMillan and the coaching staff can’t scheme him into a productive role, potentially both.
A first-round pick shouldn’t be in the cards. The Hawks don’t have much draft capital following the offseason acquisition of Dejounte Murray. Who knows what is going to happen, though. This is about the hundredth rumor surrounding John Collins over the past three years.
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