John Collins Trade Rumors: Atlanta Hawks significantly reduce asking price for forward
With John Collins and the Atlanta Hawks struggling more than anticipated this season, the team has been the subject of extensive trade rumors. While Trae Young and Dejounte Murray gave fans a glimpse at their potential last month with an impressive run, they have yet to break out as true contenders.
As the Feb. 9 trade deadline approaches and the team sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks (25-26) have found themselves in the rumor mill. According to reports, the Hawks have significantly reduced their asking price for the 25-year-old forward.
Collins is currently experiencing a significant drop in his averages. While much of this can be attributed to Murray getting touches, it isn't a great look. For the third straight season, Collins seems poised to see his scoring averages drop once again. According to The Athletic's Sam Amick, of the Hawks' Big Three, Collins is the one most likely to get traded.
The Hawks have continued to drop the asking price according to Amick's sources. Although the team would like to get draft picks back, it seems as though they know they can't gain back everything they lost trading for Murray. The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are reportedly pursuing Collins.
John Collins' season and potential landing spots
While John Collins is having another down season, his lack of production could very well boil down to decreased opportunities. By adding Dejounte Murray, the team limited the number of touches Collins gets. Although he's struggled with his 3-point shot, a new landing spot could give him a fresh start.
As the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are the frontrunners to land Collins, the two teams are having wildly different seasons.
On one hand, the Rockets (12-38) have had a brutal season. While the team navigates the rebuilding process in the post-James Harden era, a dynamic young player like Collins could be just what they need.
On the flip side of things, the Utah Jazz (26-26) have been having a bit of a Cinderella story this season. After parting ways with both Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the offseason, many thought that the Jazz would be one of the worst teams in the league.
They quickly proved that wasn't the case, putting on several dominant performances to start the season. Although the team has fallen to ninth in the Western Conference, Collins could without a doubt provide value to the team.
For his part, he continues to take the rumors in stride. Between rumors of a trade with the Jazz, the Rockets, and even the New Orleans Pelicans, he has managed to remain focused on basketball. As he told The Athletic, he's just here to play:
“I play basketball every day, you know what I mean? I come in and I play basketball, and whatever happens happens because I don’t control that side. I don’t have any control over any decisions that get made. Where I am and where I play, I don’t have any control over that."
Stay tuned for updates as they become available.