John Collins is finally being bid farewell by the Atlanta Hawks. For almost two years, the Hawks have tried to trade Collins, or more precisely, Collins’ salary.
But no team was prepared to provide enough value in exchange to make a transaction happen. Only to make the salary matching work, this deal cannot be finalized until after July 6.
Hawks to trade forward John Collins to Jazz
The Atlanta Hawks are dealing forward John Collins to the Utah Jazz in a trade that gives the team a major increase in financial freedom. For new coach Quin Snyder, who is prepared to establish a new system (something he couldn’t truly do after taking over amid last season), the Hawks save money and remove one piece from the board.
the Atlanta Hawks are moving forward John Collins to the Utah Jazz in a trade that gives the organisation significant financial freedom. #NBA #atlantahawks #utahjazz #JohnCollins https://t.co/b7cjN3jD9N pic.twitter.com/urYAcZWdqN
— Trending NOW LIVE (@TrendingNOWLIV3) June 26, 2023
Also, Utah selected power forward Taylor Hendricks from Central Florida with the ninth overall pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday. Under Will Hardy’s first season as coach, the Jazz’s offense was a revelation, and Collins’ addition might aid Utah’s return to the Western Conference playoffs the following year.
Jazz and the Hawks have conferred on the contract in various forms for more than a year, but due to the impending modifications in the league’s new collaborative bargaining contract, it has proven challenging to move Collins’ remaining contract in exchange for assets, much like how the Golden State Warriors recently unloaded Jordan Poole and the more than $130M owed to him.
Hawks to receive massive exception on $78 million dues for Collins
According to reports, the Hawks will exchange Collins, who is due $78M over the next three seasons, for forward Rudy Gay and a future second-round choice. The transaction has given the Hawks the largest trade exception in the NBA, worth $25.3M. Atlanta may use the exception to assume a player’s contract within the next year.
The addition of Gay allows Atlanta to fall well below the $182.5M second apron and the $165M luxury tax barrier for the 2023–24 season. Gay, according to his agent, also exercised his $6.4M player option for the following season as part of the trade.
But, insiders say that the Hawks will continue to pursue deals this offseason, and ownership has granted general manager Landry Fields permission to enter the luxury tax if that is what is required to strengthen the roster.
Atlanta now has a better opportunity to negotiate potential contract extensions for its young core players thanks to John Collins and his departure.
