Over the summer, the Utah Jazz broke the internet when they traded their star big man, Rudy Gobert, for a historic package of Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and five first-round picks.
It was a serious haul for Utah, and at least two of the players they got in that trade are still part of the team’s regular rotation today. For the Timberwolves, it was a high-risk move to pay such a high price, and they must be having their doubts now as they sit below .500 on the season.
But there’s another reason why the Rudy Gobert trade is memorable. According to various sources at the time, what the Wolves gave up to acquire him completely broke the trade market. Not surprisingly, some of that impact is still being felt today.
In the case of Atlanta’s John Collins, who has been on the trade market for the better part of a year now, it’s being reported that the Hawks are seeking a similar Gobert-type package.
“What you are seeing with Collins now is that the Hawks want him to be treated like an All-Star, they want a big-time return for Collins — not quite like the Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell trades, but something in that neighborhood,” an NBA executive told Heavy Sports. “And everyone else looks at him like he’s a guy who is owed $100 million over the next four years and is having the worst year of his career. The [Brooklyn] Nets can build a package around Joe Harris to make the money match, and add in Royce O’Neale and Cam Thomas.”
The Hawks want teams to value Collins like an All-Star, but how is that possible with the way he’s been playing this season? Averaging 13.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, Collins is a decent player but is certainly not worth the price of a Gobert-like trade package.
John Collins Breaks His Silence About Ongoing Trade Rumors
This season has been a rough one for the Hawks. Besides dealing with various injuries, Trae Young has been the subject of scrutiny for causing division in his own locker room.
In the middle of it has been John Collins, who has had to endure wild trade rumors and pitches all throughout the season.
“I play basketball every day, you know what I mean?” Collins said while sitting in the stands at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento last week before Atlanta’s 120-117 win over the Kings. “I come in and I play basketball, and whatever happens happens because I don’t control that side. I don’t have any control over any decisions that get made. Where I am and where I play, I don’t have any control over that.”
All Collins, or any Hawks player, can do is just wait for all of this to play out. As the trade deadline approaches, we’re going to find out how serious the Hawks are about their asking price for Collins and if any team in the league would be willing to meet it.
Considering how bad the Gobert deal looks now, it’s no wonder why teams have been so reluctant to make big trades this season.
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