Utah Lands John Collins | Podcast

After years of circulating rumors and ‘almost’ deals, the Atlanta Hawks finally part ways with John Collins and the Utah Jazz are the team that lands him. We break down the deal and what it means for John, the Jazz, and the future.
2023-24
draft
review
Author

Adam Bushman

Published

June 27, 2023

Intro

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Adam Bushman Twitter | @adam_bushman

Today:

  • John Collins to the Jazz
    • What it means for John, Utah, and the future

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John Collins to the Jazz

The deal:

  • The deal
    • Jazz receive John Collins
    • Hawks receive Rudy Gay, protected future 2nd round pick
      • MEM’s pick which conveys if 31-45 (so a good 2nd, actually…but a second)
  • Why?
    • ATL
      • They are in cap hell; need to shed money for extensions and future compliance with CBA
      • John’s role and impact have reduced as their approach has changed
    • UTA
      • Needs to have 90% of the cap in rostered salaries by start of the season
      • Gets off Gay, bets on a younger talent
  • Announced yesterday about an hour before the press conference
  • Can’t be completed until after the “next season” begins
    • Cap space is opened up via Russell Westbrook, others

John Collins:

  • 6’9”, 226 lb forward; 6 years in the NBA, turns 26 right before the season starts
  • One of the more athletic, physically impressive players in the league
  • His career has been a seesaw, inflected most drastically by the hire of Nate McMillan
    • Pre-McMillan
      • John was drafted 19th out of Wake Forrest
      • He was selected for the All-Rookie team with Donovan that year
      • Stats
    • The reign of McMillan
      • Nate was hire mid-season, 2020-21
      • Stats
  • Awesome in transition, cuts, PnR
  • Improved as defender, passer, non-scoring contributor

Utah Jazz:

  • Jazz had to use their cap space somehow and bet on a guy who has a lot of value rebuild potential
  • Fits what Utah wants to do:
    • Athletic, big, long, strong
    • Plays with and without the ball
    • Can work inside out
    • Can contribute on both ends
  • Immediately
    • Markkanen, Collins, Kessler starting frontcourt
    • Hendricks, Olynyk off the bench
    • Samanic, Jones 3rd string
  • Impact
    • Hendricks likley isn’t starting at all this year
      • Shouldn’t impact his minutes
      • Opened my eyes to the possibility UTA sees Hendricks as a 3/4
    • Olynyk won’t be with UTA long term but the team could slow play and experiment most the year

The Future:

  • John is owned $75M over the coming 3 years
    • Works out to ~19%, 18%, and 17% of the cap
    • Comes off books for Kessler, Agbaji extensions
  • Great salary for trade matching
    • If UTA is make a big offer for a star, this is perfect to be the meat of matching salary

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