5 bold predictions for the upcoming 2023 NBA Trade Deadline
By Dalton Sell
2023 NBA Trade Deadline Bold Prediction No. 2 – Years of John Collins rumors come to an end as the Atlanta Hawks send him to the Utah Jazz
John Collins has been mentioned in trade rumors for years now, but the Atlanta Hawks have hung onto him through thick and thin. However, this could be the year he is finally moved elsewhere, as The Athletic’s Sam Amick (Subscription required) reported that the asking price for Collins in trades has decreased significantly.
One potential Collins suitor could be the Utah Jazz, as the two teams have apparently held conversations about a move. Per Yahoo! Sport’s Jake Fischer, these two have discussed a deal that would send Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to Atlanta for Collins, which would be an interesting move for both parties.
The Jazz have been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season. After trading away several key components from last season, they were expected to be at the bottom of the standings, but it has not panned out that way. They are currently in the play-in picture out west, and they could be a buyer at the deadline. Collins would be a tremendous pickup for them as they look to make noise in the Western Conference. The 25-year-old Collins could also benefit from a fresh start, given the constant trade rumors surrounding him and his inconsistent role in Atlanta.
From Atlanta’s perspective, if they have truly lowered their asking price on Collins, getting a haul of Beasley and Vanderbilt would be solid. Beasley has been a sparkplug off Utah’s bench this season, averaging 13.9 points while knocking down 3.1 3-pointers per game. He would give Atlanta another strong scoring guard off the bench. As for Vanderbilt, the young forward is currently in the midst of a career year and would help the Hawks strengthen their frontcourt in Collins’s absence. These would be two pieces to help the Hawks remain in win-now mode.
The current holdup in a deal is reportedly that the Jazz want a first-round pick in the deal as well. It would be somewhat surprising to see the Hawks add that first-rounder, but that does not mean a deal is off the table. These two front offices have plenty of time to negotiate, and out of all of the trade chatter surrounding Collins, this could be the likeliest deal to materialize. That is purely just speculation, but it would not be surprising to see Collins head to Salt Lake City in the next month.