Many around the NBA thought it was a foregone conclusion that John Collins would be moved ahead of the draft this past summer, and Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack article that the Hawks power forward was “very nearly” dealt to the Kings in June.
Sources tell Stein that there’s “momentum building on all sides” for Collins to be traded during the 2022/23 season, so his name should be “right at the top of the list” of players most likely to be dealt before the February 9 deadline.
Stein confirms that the Jazz have shown interest in Collins, and that’s a noteworthy pivot for a team that many believed would be tanking and a frontrunner for a top lottery pick after dealing away Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and other veterans.
Speaking of Utah, a rival executive tells Stein that he thinks the Jazz are more likely to extend Jordan Clarkson‘s contract than trade him. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype hears similarly, saying there’s “palpable buzz” about a potential Clarkson extension.
Here are a few more trade rumors from Scotto, who takes a look at the top trade candidates for each NBA team:
- The Knicks are reluctant to part with a first-round pick to move off Evan Fournier‘s contract, sources tell Scotto. Fournier has fallen out of New York’s rotation after a prolonged shooting slump and is owed $18MM this season and $18.9MM in 2023/24. In addition to Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley, rival executives also believe that second-year guard Miles McBride is available due to the team’s backcourt logjam, per Scotto.
- The Heat have made Duncan Robinson available in trade talks, sources tell Scotto. That’s hardly surprising since Robinson, like Fournier, has struggled and fallen out of the rotation at times in ’22/23. The problem is Miami would almost certainly have to attach assets to deal Robinson, who is owed $57.5MM over the next three seasons, and it remains to be seen whether the Heat are willing to do so.
- Echoing a previous report, Scotto writes that the Lakers were trying to offload Russell Westbrook to the Spurs for Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson before the season started. While LJ Ellis of SpursTalk.com stated that the Lakers were only willing to attach two second-round picks to Westbrook’s enormous expiring contract, Scotto hears the Lakers offered a lottery-protected first-rounder and the Spurs wanted that pick to be unprotected, which caused the talks to stall.
- Center Nerlens Noel is not expected to finish the ’22/23 season with the Pistons, according to Scotto. It’s unclear if Scotto means he’ll be bought out at some point or moved in a trade, since Noel’s $9.2MM contract doesn’t have positive value given how many injuries he’s dealt with the past couple seasons.
I’m sure all 29 other teams are trampling over each other to bring in overpayed bench shooter Duncan Robinson
22 are.
Robinson was a very bad signing. Riley has obviously been at the top of his game but he seems to be slipping a tad. Not sure what he was thinking not getting anyone in to play PF and the Lowry signing was questionable at best. The Heat are no longer contenders.
They actually traded Precious to get Lowry. That was an obv bad move as soon as it was announced.
It was a sign and trade.
I knew John wasn’t getting traded & was the 1st one to say as much while everyone was so certain he would. Now that he’s fallen from our 2nd option to our 5th/being relegated to the corner, it’s obv that it’s time for him to move on. John is still a beast & a great scorer. Nate just hasn’t been able to find a way to unlock him. Clint & Onyeka have become more efficient lob threats & even tho John’s defense has improved a lot he’s still smaller than almost every 4 that he goes up against & he hasn’t added much strength since becoming a pro. The fact that he’s a legit 20/10 guy if featured & a legit 50/40/90 threat as well should make him wanted by pretty much any team that doesn’t alr have an all-star at the 4. I’m still extremely bullish on Jalen Johnson’s future but he’s clearly not ready to play huge minutes. This means we’ll need a starting 4 in any John Collins deal. I can’t stress that enough.
Gee I wonder who told this board . Okongwu is a better fit at the 4. With Murray and Young Hawks are better with Clint and Okongwu. What they need is bench scoring. Specially with Bogdanovic out.
Collins line – 32 mins,12.4 pts, 7.9 reb
Okongwu line – 19.7 mins, 7.4 pts, 5.7 reb
Not only will you get a bit better production. Definitely better rebounding and D. Which makes the Team better. And with what you get back. It’s an upgrade for team. Win win lol. You welcome
Lol Okongwu playing the 4 is an even dumber idea than it was when you 1st said it. He has still never played the 4 & he still never will. Onyeka never plays with Clint. I have no idea why u keep bringing it up
Marc Stein and his “scoop”. Utah will not be trading for John Collins. They have no desire to add his contract. Find your “keepers” from your current players, and look to add if necessary further down the road.
Utah just needs to keep doing what they are doing, and see how things continue to unfold in the months ahead of the trade deadline.
Hope Collins works it out. He good, like really good.
Atl: Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, Dario Saric and 1 unprotected PHX 1st and 1 swap.
PHX: John Collins
Lol. Cam Johnson has more value than Collins and you want them to give up a first plus a swap and a rotation player. You are out of your mind.
That’s why he tried to sell Collins as being “really good” first
ATL: Heild, Jalen Smith or Isiah Jackson maybe Nembhard
INDY: John Collins
Atlanta with Hield could also move Bogdanovic if the knee doesn’t get better.
With Hield and either Smith or Jackson Atlanta gets some cheap PF play for years to come.
Or
SAC: John Collins
ATL: Barnes, Davion Mitchell, Terrance Davis
Or just Barnes and Davis and Sac unprotects the Huerter pick.
I will say no thank you for Indy. I think they will want to hang on to that cheap PF play for years to come
Indy would still have one of two young pfs.
I really am just looking for a way to get Collins a pure point guard like Tyrese or CPIII. He has never had a pg whose goal it is to get him great shoots.
Imagine the efficiency and TS% of a Mikal Bridges, John Collins and Ayton front court.
McBride is not going. Rose and Quickley are expendable now. Fournier got time to raise his value. Fact is we need his shooting. But he’s so out of sync. That you can’t play him. Thibs offense is lacking. He really needs to get an offense coach. His is predictable and boring. Tired of the iso ball. Knicks need shooters. Or a killer scorer. A trade is coming, for sure. But it’ll be after Jan 15.
Knicks could clear off Fournier, Rose, and whoever else to the Lakers if Westbrook is the conversation starter. These 2 teams never get together in trade deals. Lakers, Boston also. Never seem to see the FO’s trading pieces between each other. Rivalry run’s deep
Reluctant? Why would the NYK even consider trading a 1st now simply to get rid of Fournier’s contract? Maybe in the off season when he’s expiring, if there’s a cap space benefit to do it. In season, he and a bunch of 1st’s could be part of a larger deal, but that’s about who they would be acquiring not getting rid of.
As usual, the nameless “rival executives” are wrong. NYK has apparently discussed moving Rose OR IQ (not both), with the goal of opening up rotation time for, among others, McBride. McBride isn’t a guy they’re looking to move, and is too much of an unknown league-wide to fetch much anyway.
Agreed. The Knicks aren’t going to give up their picks to offload Fournier. Absolutely zero benefit for them to do that.
John Collins potential trades
1. John Collins and AJ Griffin for Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and Landry Shamet.
Johnson to the 4, better floor spacer and better fit with Trae and Murray running the team. Crowder off the bench would be a huge addition and Shamet for depth competing with Aaron Holiday.
Suns lock down Collins at the 4 spot who I think is a better fit for them. He’s a easy 20-10 machine, would be a greats second option to Booker without needing to many touches. AJ Griffin coming aswell he looks solid but stuck behind Justin Holiday, Jalen Johnson and Deandre Hunter.
2. John Collins for Derrick White and Grant Williams
Maybe ATL want White as a third guard with good defence to play next to Bojan off the bench. Grant Williams comes over to replace Collins and again spaces the floor better and is alright defensively. For the Celtics it would be a huge move and show signs that they don’t think they can resign Grant Williams. However Smart Brown Tatum Collins Rob Will would be a very good starting 5. Collins offers rebounding which Rob is sometimes undersized and struggles with. Great third/fourth option that doesn’t demand the ball tho
Dude…Why would Boston possibly make a trade right now? 13-3 with R. Williams coming back? White and G, Williams playing great?
No offense but..what?
Also Rob Williams average 12 rebounds per 36 minutes, Collins averages 10 per 36.
Previous articles have shown raised concerns that the Celtics won’t be able to retain Grant Williams who’s deal is expiring.
So what your doing is dealing his expiring deal and Derrick White for John Collins who I believe is a small upgrade and would be a good fit for them and a good move for Atlanta.
For the Rob Williams part that, he’s only 6’9 and some people on here keep saying they should play him at the 4 he’s not big enough to be a 5 or whatever. Idk I was just playing a little on that narrative and saying Collins would fit good cause he’s a tall 4 and that would help in the rebounding category in particular.
Rob last year as a full time starter averaged just under 10 boards a game, Collins averages a touch over 8 on his career however more recently that’s been beside Capela who collects most the boards for them. Think if he was to move to Boston he and Rob would both averages around 10.
More so Collins would fit well as the third scoring option after Tatum and Brown. For most his career he’s been someone who chimes in well with the points without demanding to many touches or too many shots. Besides this season he’s usually got a 55% FG% and that’s including stretching the floor some too.
Celtics are playing well and I can’t see them going for it but idk if he’s available and they don’t think they can resign Grant then I don’t think John would be a bad move at all.
Come playoffs you could start off with John and Rob as your bigs with Horford as depth able to cover both spots.
Looking at possible match ups, with the Sixers Embiid has struggled with Horford in the past and John Collins too. You could match the raptors who play small with Siakim at the 5 a lot of the time with Collins. Then Tatum and Brown the forwards against OG and Scottie with would be more favourable. The Nets, it’s probably better to be big as the suck at rebounding so Collins and Rob Will would be a good combo, with KD vs Tatum and Kyrie vs Brown and Simmons vs Smart the other match ups. Miami really lack big bodies so adding John to Rob and Horford would just add to that’s advantage. Then lastly the bucks aren’t great for any side to line up with however Giannas as a long, athletic PF you’d have another body in Collins who is also tall, long and athletic. Not saying he matches him or stops him but he’s definitely someone who in theory could get close and keep with him.
“If they can’t resign Grant”
Celtics are playing for a championship. They aren’t going to blow up their team.
Come on man.
Blow up there team oh yeah pretty sure they were in the KD sweepstakes last year.
I’m suggesting a small upgrade last year they were willing to flip half the team
Speaking of the trade deadline, one guy the Warriors will definitely cut is JaMychal Green. He is absolutely horrible.
He’s no good as a power forward so Kerr moved him to Center to somehow take advantage of his quickness and shooting against bigger players cuz it’s not getting done against guys his own size at the four.
But what do you know.., he’s floundering there too. Against New Orleans tonight the centers tore him up and of course going the other way he can’t shoot a lick the last couple years so really he’s an undersized nothing. He’s done.
Fortunately he’s a minimum contract so they can just cut him, give him his cash minus whoever else picks him up like Monty Williams who was crying about him going to the Warriors. Well now you can have him.
Now hopefully a waiver wire pickup at the backup four or five. Green a good gamble but this one did not work out. Can’t wait till they waive this guy.
Looks like Kerr is pushing for trades with those line ups … Waiting for Lacob to stop dreaming about futur… Time is now
The Jazz are shopping Alexander Walker. He is getting the putting a tape together minutes.
Collins would be perfect for this team.
Walker, Balmoro, Azibuke and two number ones gets her done.