NEW YORK (AFP) – The NBA’s Utah Jazz obtained forward John Collins from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for swingman Rudy Gay and a future NBA Draft pick, according to multiple reports on Monday.
The deal, which cannot be completed until July 6 under league rules as a new free agency period looms, opens a USD25.3 million trade exception, the largest in the NBA, for the Hawks, according to reports by ESPN and The Athletic.
Collins, a 25-year-old Utah native entering his seventh NBA campaign, averaged 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocked shots a game for Atlanta this past season.
With the Jazz, Collins will be on a frontline alongside Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen, last year’s NBA Most Improved Player with a career-best 25.6 points a game, and All-Rookie centre Walker Kessler, who averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots – fourth-most in the NBA – per game.
The Hawks have a year to use the trade exception, which could be used to help Atlanta keep free agents or chase available talent to add alongside All-Star guard Trae Young.
