It’s clear that John Collins won’t be around the Utah Jazz for long. Despite that, he’ll likely finish out his current contract with the Jazz, waiting for surprises.
With two years left on his contract and coming off a disappointing season in Utah, Collins isn’t exactly an easy trade, but it’s not impossible. That’s where the New Orleans Pelicans come in.
A few weeks ago, Christian Clark of NOLA.com mentioned the Jazz as a suitor for Brandon Ingram while highlighting how a the deal could work between the two parties.
“The Jazz are a team that NBA insiders have eyed as a potential suitor for Ingram. Utah’s big players include Walker Kessler, John Collins, Drew Eubanks and Kyle Filipowski.”
“Kessler, who is still on a rookie contract, offers rim protection, a quality Pelicans leader that David Griffin has been looking to add for more than a year. Collins primarily plays power forward, but can play center in small-sided lineups. He offers athleticism and a useful outside shot.”
While a straight trade for Collins doesn’t work, and trading Kessler for Ingram on an expiring contract seems drastic, there is a scenario in which these two sides could agree to a trade featuring Ingram and Collins.
For Utah, it’s a no-brainer. Getting Ingram for Collins opens up salary cap flexibility for 2025, and it potentially gives them another star to play with alongside Markkanen as they both enter their primes. The toughest sell is on New Orleans, but maybe not by much.
The Pelicans’ purest center right now is Daniel Theis, who is a perfectly functional big man. While they could try Zion Williamson at the five, and that’s something worth considering, will they switch to small-ball full-time?
After losing Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance Jr., the Pelicans need to not only replace what they brought, but also a center who fits in well with Williamson. Collins isn’t the ideal big man to pair with Zion, but he could be the start of something more promising than what they’ve had in the past.
New Orleans has always been on the verge of being a great team, but their current roster doesn’t make much sense. While Collins is an inferior talent to Ingram, he makes more sense on the roster than Ingram.
I don’t want to repeat myself, but the only thing that doesn’t make a lot of sense on Utah’s side of the Clark package is including Kessler in a trade for Ingram, knowing that there’s a risk of the latter fleeing. However, the Jazz could instead include first-round picks, because anyone knows the Jazz have plenty of them.
The Pelicans run the risk of losing Ingram in 2025 if they don’t trade him for something of value first. Collins may be a drag, but his contract wouldn’t hurt their flexibility for too long.
For that reason, if it cost the Jazz a few late-first-rounders, it would benefit the Pelicans and ensure that Utah isn’t overloaded with young players. The Pelicans would get something in return, and the Jazz would use their assets wisely.
It’s a safe bet that the Jazz and Pelicans won’t do anything for a while until they figure out what they have with their current roster. While Utah would love to get rid of Collins at the first opportunity, they can be patient and see which team is desperate enough to take him after a while.
The Pelicans are playoff hopefuls who could certainly be looking for an upgrade in their frontcourt if they show their vast potential. If they run out of options at the trade deadline, Collins makes a lot of sense for them because they would only have to pay for a season and a half.
The Pelicans may not want that extra year under their belt, but at this point, they’re all about making noise. If Collins can help them in that regard, even if it’s a mid-season acquisition, it’ll be a steal.
