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SALT LAKE CITY — It's still a few days before free agency, but the Utah Jazz are already using their cap space.
The Jazz have traded for versatile Atlanta forward John Collins, according to a report from ESPN. In return, the Jazz will send back Rudy Gay, who will be opting into the final year of his contract, and a future second-round pick.
Collins has three years and $78 million left on his contract (the final year, though, is a player option).
It's a cheap price for a player who was once on the cusp of stardom. Collins, who was born in Layton, averaged 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds in 2019-20, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Hawks' franchise. However, a change of roles led to less usage and, therefore, less production in recent season.
Last season, he averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting just 29% from 3-point range, by far the worst of his career. He had been a 37% career 3-point shooter entering the 2022-23 season.
Even as he struggled from deep, Collins was still effective as a pick-and-roll finisher and inside the arc, shooting 62% on all 2-point shots. A major finger injury suffered during the 2021-22 season may be a culprit to the poor outside shooting. Collins has been bit by the injury bug and has only played in 70 or more games twice in his career.
The Jazz had been linked to Collins heading into the trade deadline, but waiting appears to have paid off. Utah got the talented forward for two low-value assets.
Gay signed with the Jazz ahead of the 2021-22 season in hopes of helping the team compete for a title. Things didn't work out as expected — for Gay or for the Jazz. Gay lost his rotation before the end of his first season with the team, and then the Jazz drastically changed directions last summer, choosing to start a rebuild.
The Hawks were ready to move on and shed Collins' sizable salary; they found a willing partner in the Jazz. Utah was projected to have upwards of $40 million in cap space this summer, so it was easily able to fit in the $25.34 million Collins will make this season. With the free agent market lacking, this gave Utah a chance to add a talented player at a low cost.
Collins will turn 26 by the start of the next season, so there's hope he can regain his previous form that helped him earn his long-term lucrative deal with the Hawks. His skillset should allow him to fit nicely in with Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler and newly drafted rookie Taylor Hendricks to form a deep and versatile frontcourt.
As a bonus, the Jazz also got off the final year of Gay's deal.
The trade lessens Atlanta's luxury tax bill and creates a $25.3 million trade exception for the Hawks.
The deal can't be completed until July 6.
