Jazz reporter Tony Jones: Trade market not there for John Collins

[Texas Chuck]

He can return to form, though very difficult with those pieces around him, but he's just not the level of player that swings 15 wins. I know you guys thought he was your Dirk, but he's just not that guy. At all.

Well, it would be 6 wins.

Also I think it is worth noting that in his first two years Utah was 32-34 with him in 22-23 and 5-11 without him, and in 23-24 we were 22-33 with him, but 9-18 without him. If you also restrict the season both years to before the trade deadline we were 25-23 in 22-23 and 21-22 in 23-24 when he played (most games both seasons).

Also, again, you keep saying that we expected him to be our "Dirk", but you've taken that very out of context (which we've discussed at length before). As a fanbase we've hoped the entire time that he could be the second best player on a contender.

I definitely am not taking it out of context. Multiple posters were posting box score statlines and even saying Lauri was on a projection to be a better player. This all happened.

But I have too much respect for you to get into what was just a fanbase excited about a guy and getting way out over their skis. The point is he's just not a franchise guy. That roster is just brutal and even he if plays 75 games at his level from 3 years ago, that team is going to finish at the bottom of the conference.

Sucks for him.

[Devilanche]

Wait at free agency end and there might be a market . Ainge jr was saying Utah wanted to be competitive though so they might keep their vets and trade the talents that haven’t panned out.

[SkyHook]

He can return to form, though very difficult with those pieces around him, but he's just not the level of player that swings 15 wins. I know you guys thought he was your Dirk, but he's just not that guy. At all.

Lauri was never Dirk and was never going to be Dirk. Out of curiosity, I just ran a quick search through posts on this board for combinations of "Dirk" or "Nowitski" and "Lauri" or "Markannen". Other than one casual mention of "Dirk-lite", you're the only one I saw bringing up Dirk and Lauri together in a post in over a year. Maybe it's time to let it go.

A good chunk of the Dirk/Lauri talk was because of Carlisle though.

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[jayjaysee]

I still think teams would pay assets for Lauri today.. Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Sacramento, SAS.. Dumars is on a roll.. I think they’d all offer Utah something for last year’s Lauri with the hope of a bounce back..

But if Utah wants to wait to see if he returns what they thought they could get a year ago, they will still be terrible and can tank the year away.

[babyjax13]

I still think teams would pay assets for Lauri today.. Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Sacramento, SAS.. Dumars is on a roll.. I think they’d all offer Utah something for last year’s Lauri with the hope of a bounce back..

But if Utah wants to wait to see if he returns what they thought they could get a year ago, they will still be terrible and can tank the year away.

I would hope if assets are available that we just make a deal. Risking his level of play staying where it is at because of our poor guard play and/or injuries would be a mistake.

[SA37]

Even worse: to use picks to trade them. Keeping Collins on the roster is a huge mistake. Just offer him to Miami for Rozier and buy him out, that is better than holding.

Hoping Miami is looking to swap Rozier for Collins.

[Chinook]

I still think teams would pay assets for Lauri today.. Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Sacramento, SAS.. Dumars is on a roll.. I think they’d all offer Utah something for last year’s Lauri with the hope of a bounce back..

But if Utah wants to wait to see if he returns what they thought they could get a year ago, they will still be terrible and can tank the year away.

The Spurs would need Fox to take a discount to make Markkanen's money work long term. If he's willing to do that, it becomes more tenable -- especially if Vassell is part of the outgoing salary. If he won't, the numbers don't work. Durant was a special case because he was old and expiring. Markkanen really isn't a flight risk, which is why him signing a long-term deal didn't help his trade value. Teams are stuck with the contract that Ainge negotiated, which was player friendly and a better deal that he would have gotten this summer had he still been a free agent.

[tmorgan]

Uhh…. we have two additional bigger salaries available to trade now (not Lauri big, but substantional). Fit is still fantastic, it’s just about the price.

[OGSactownballer]

I mentioned DeRozan + a charlotte 2nd for Collins.

I know Demar has that extra 10 million next year, but is Utah planning to be FA players next year? Even if they are, I cant imagine that 10 million kills them. At least they come away with an extra 2nd from Collins?

I think this would require more than one second to get off that 10 million.

Then we make it two.

I’d happily do so to get DeRozsn out and fill the hole at PF.

[babyjax13]

I mentioned DeRozan + a charlotte 2nd for Collins.

I know Demar has that extra 10 million next year, but is Utah planning to be FA players next year? Even if they are, I cant imagine that 10 million kills them. At least they come away with an extra 2nd from Collins?

I think this would require more than one second to get off that 10 million.

Then we make it two.

I’d happily do so to get DeRozsn out and fill the hole at PF.

Two and I'd happily do it.

[babyjax13]

I don’t know the exact math for the Celtics, but I think they’re around $500-600k over the 2nd apron after filling out the empty roster spots. Collins makes about $1M less/yr than Simons and the fact that he’s big and shoots 3’s makes him a good fit for the Celtics. His bird rights could be valuable to the Celtics next offseason too.

Could be something there with potentially a 3rd team involved if Utah isn’t interested in Simons.

We would not want Simons but yes, if a third team wants him I think there could be something.

[SNPA]

I think this would require more than one second to get off that 10 million.

Then we make it two.

I’d happily do so to get DeRozsn out and fill the hole at PF.

Two and I'd happily do it.

It’d be the Kings 26/32 seconds.

I think that could work.

[SlimShady83]

Bet you all, Ainge wants 1 or 2 2nds or even at least 1 FRP for Collins and teams don't want to do it, Ainge going to have to trade Kessler/Lauri if he wants picks, my Lakers are saying Hello.

[Astaluego]

Vassell+ SRP'S? For J.Collins
The Jazz are getting younger, getting a promising player after getting rid of Sexton/Clarksson, who should also be a great fit. The Spurs are getting what I think is a good fit in the frontcourt for VW. He also has an expiring contract, giving them future flexibility...

[babyjax13]

Vassell+ SRP'S? For J.Collins
The Jazz are getting younger, getting a promising player after getting rid of Sexton/Clarksson, who should also be a great fit. The Spurs are getting what I think is a good fit in the frontcourt for VW. He also has an expiring contract, giving them future flexibility...

I would rather not pay his contract but I would get it if we did it.

[PurpleGreenGold]

Vassell+ SRP'S? For J.Collins
The Jazz are getting younger, getting a promising player after getting rid of Sexton/Clarksson, who should also be a great fit. The Spurs are getting what I think is a good fit in the frontcourt for VW. He also has an expiring contract, giving them future flexibility...

I would rather not pay his contract but I would get it if we did

If the Jazz are going to just buy out Derozan anyway, I think they could probably pick up more than two 2nd round picks for $10 million dollars. So they might as well buy Collins out if that’s all they can get.

[Michaellam1987]

The only feasible & tradable partner, should be MIA, LAL or SAS, in which they all have sufficient useless expiring contracts for salary matching purpose, while the same time, they have needs on upgrade on PF/C position, and are willing to give you some future 2nd round picks as incentive. Another route is to negotiate a buy out with Collins, for say 3-4M pay cut, as Collins can definitely earn back this amount in the open market.

[MoneyTalks41890]

I dropped this in the general thread but it’s a bad enough idea I’ll drop it here too.

Two versions.

Vincent, Kleber, 2026 swap rights for Collins

Vincent, Kleber, Shake Milton, 2030 swap, 2031 1st for Collins, Kessler Walker

[SkyHook]

I dropped this in the general thread but it’s a bad enough idea I’ll drop it here too.

Two versions.

Vincent, Kleber, 2026 swap rights for Collins

Vincent, Kleber, Shake Milton, 2030 swap, 2031 1st for Collins, Kessler Walker

Zero interest in moving Kessler. I'm genuinely curious, what value do you think the 2026 swap has? (I wouldn't say none, but you can see none from there.)

[Hugi Mancura]

Wait at free agency end and there might be a market . Ainge jr was saying Utah wanted to be competitive though so they might keep their vets and trade the talents that haven’t panned out.

He lied. They will lose their first round pick to OKC if it is over 8:th pick. Next year this changes to second round picks, so Utah will do anything they can in their power to finish bottom 3 this year, so they can keep their pick.

They all ready let Clarkson go for free. True Clarkson did suck last two years, so no real loss here. But Sexton was team top 4 player last year and they traded him to Charlotte for Nurkic, who will be a back up center. Only reason why they did it is to get more playing time to young players, who are not as good as Sexton. In future they might be, but it doesn't help this year.