John Collins trade rumors: Atlanta Hawks reject Utah Jazz's latest offer, talks reported to continue
As the Feb. 9 deadline gets closer, John Collins trade rumors continue to swirl. The Atlanta Hawks have once again made the young forward available, but an enticing market is yet to form.
One team that has recently been tied to a John Collins trade is the Utah Jazz. However, according to recent reports, it doesn't seem like a deal will be getting done.
In a recent story for The Atheltic, Tony Jones provided an update on the John Collin trade front. He wrote that the Jazz made an offer, but the Hawks declined. Jones wrote:
"Multiple league sources, who were granted anonymity in order to speak freely for this story, tell The Atheltic that talks between the Jazz and Hawks aren't serious enough to where a potential deal could be considered imminent.
"The Jazz previously offered guard Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt for Collins, but have also asked for a first-round pick to be attached to the deal. The Hawks, according to these sources, declined that offer."
Collins, 25, has seen a dip in production throughout the first half of the season. His 13.3 points per game are the second-lowest of his young career. Collins is also averaging 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per night.
Will a John Collins trade happen before the deadline?
Given this latest update, it does not seem like a John Collins trade will be happening before the deadline. Once again, the Atlanta Hawks are waiting for a decent return to come about.
Seeing that the team has made him available every year, Collins' value is at an all-time low. After giving up multiple picks to acquire Dejounte Murray this offseason, it's unlikely the front office will be willing to part with more draft capital to get a Collins deal done.
One reason why Collins hasn't been moved yet is because of the size of his contract. The 25-year-old is in the second year of a five-year, $125 million deal. For the remainder of the contract, he is due at least $25 million a season. That is a steep price to pay for a guy averaging 13 points per game.
If the Atlanta Hawks are willing to lower their price, they might be able to salvage something for Collins. A team like the Utah Jazz could be enticed to take a flier on him as he enters his prime. They've had similar success with someone in their situation, with Lauri Markkanen playing at an All-Star level this season.