After nearly two years of trade speculation, the Atlanta Hawks have finally found a new home for John Collins.
The Hawks were previously hesitant to accept offers they deemed inadequate, but a shift in the league's financial landscape and increased concerns about the luxury tax motivated them to make a deal. In this trade, Collins is sent to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick. It's important to note that the Jazz can absorb Collins into their cap space, allowing them to avoid sending back equal salary, while the Hawks use a trade exception to take on Gay's contract and create a $25 million trade exception for future transactions.
Now, let's examine the winners and losers of this trade:
WINNER: John Collins
John Collins can contribute — two seasons ago he averaged 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds a game, and he’s the kind of athletic forward who can impact the game even off the ball or with blocks. Plus, he famously put Joel Embiid in a poster (then wore a T-shirt with an image of the dunk).
John Collins' usage rate declining over the past four seasons in Atlanta suggests that he was receiving fewer opportunities within the offense. Hawks fans might argue that he didn't earn those chances, and his shooting struggles, particularly from beyond the arc, further compounded his limitations.
With the trade to the Utah Jazz, Collins now has a fresh start and a new opportunity to make an impact. He will likely split playing time at the power forward position with recently drafted Taylor Hendricks. If Collins fails to capitalize on this chance and underperforms, Hendricks could potentially see an increased role in the rotation.
Given the circumstances, it is crucial for Collins to seize this fresh start and maximize his potential. He needs to demonstrate improved performance, both offensively and defensively, to solidify his role and establish himself as a valuable contributor to the Jazz. Taking advantage of this opportunity will be crucial for Collins to reestablish his value and prove his worth in his new team.
LOSER: Class of 2023 free agents
The trade involving John Collins does have an impact on the Utah Jazz's available cap space and could potentially affect their ability to pursue free agents. Prior to the trade, the Jazz were one of the few teams with significant cap space, making them an attractive option for free agents seeking new deals. This situation allowed players and their agents to leverage the Jazz's cap space as a bargaining chip to potentially drive up their value or generate interest from other teams.
However, with the trade absorbing Collins into their cap space, the Jazz's financial flexibility is reduced. If players like Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker decline their player options, the Jazz would still have some cap room available, but it will not be as substantial as before. This limits their ability to make significant moves in the free-agent market and potentially impacts their options to sign new players.
It's worth noting that while Utah may have lost some leverage as a desirable destination for free agents, they still have a competitive team and an attractive playing environment, which can be appealing to certain players. The Jazz will need to be strategic in how they utilize their remaining cap space and explore alternative avenues, such as trades or mid-level exceptions, to strengthen their roster if necessary
WINNER: Utah Jazz
The acquisition of John Collins by the Utah Jazz in exchange for Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick can indeed be seen as a win for the Jazz. Collins, at 25 years old, fills a position of need for the team and brings valuable skills and contributions to their rotation. If Collins can bounce back and exceed expectations, the trade could be even more beneficial for the Jazz.
From a value perspective, it appears that the Jazz made a shrewd move, giving up a player in Rudy Gay who was likely on his way out and a future second-round pick. This essentially means they acquired Collins for minimal cost, making it a favorable transaction for Utah.
Moreover, acquiring Collins opens up possibilities for the Jazz to explore additional trades. With Collins in the fold, they now have the flexibility to pursue trades involving players like Kelly Olynyk and Damian Jones, potentially bringing back more players or draft picks to further strengthen their roster.
Considering the Jazz's focus on asset acquisition and their desire to improve their overall roster, this trade aligns with their goals. It provides them with a quality asset in Collins and creates opportunities for potential future moves. Overall, it can be seen as a positive and successful trade for the Utah Jazz.
EHH: Atlanta Hawks
You're correct that the Atlanta Hawks had their reasons for making the trade and it aligns with their goal of getting below the luxury tax threshold. By trading John Collins to the Utah Jazz, they were able to shed salary and create a $25 million trade exception, which could be utilized in future moves to strengthen their roster.
However, it's important to note that while the trade may have met the Hawks' financial objectives, they did lose a quality player in Collins. Despite his diminishing role in Atlanta's rotation, Collins still possesses valuable skills and potential that could have been harnessed under a new coach and system, such as Quin Snyder's in Utah. In that sense, the Hawks did not necessarily improve with this move.
While it may not be a disaster, as the trade aligns with their financial objectives, it's understandable to view it as a missed opportunity for the Hawks. Giving away a player of Collins' caliber without receiving immediate substantial return is not ideal, and it remains to be seen how they will address the void created by his departure.
Ultimately, the true evaluation of the trade's outcome for the Atlanta Hawks will depend on how they utilize the trade exception and any subsequent moves they make to reinforce their roster.
Comments