Oct 29, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) takes a shot against Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins (20) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
John Collins gets traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in this trade proposal
If the Milwaukee Bucks want current Utah Jazz forward John Collins, they better come up with a better trade proposal.
Landing John Collins was one of the best moves the Utah Jazz could’ve made this offseason. Giving up Rudy Gay and just a second-round pick for Collins, an infinite upgrade over Gay, was a stroke of genius. Even if Collins doesn’t become an All-Star and turn into Lauri Markkanen 2.0, the fact is he’s substantially better than Gay, making the move a no-doubt-about-it-winner.
So seeing NBA Analysis pitch a trade where the Jazz gives up such a huge get in Collins for the likes of four solid players isn’t very attractive. James Piercey, who recently suggested a similar trade involving Collin Sexton and the Milwaukee Bucks, once again builds a trade around Bobby Portis and Grayson Allen (same as the Sexton trade), as well as Malik Beasley and Robin Lopez.
And while it seems like Piercey really doesn’t want Portis or Allen on his team, this trade doesn’t work for the Jazz.
Utah Jazz Receive: F/C Bobby Portis, G/F Grayson Allen, G/F Malik Beasley, C Robin Lopez
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: F/C John Collins
Beasley might be a fine additional asset as part of a future trade, but as a player, he doesn’t do it for the Jazz. He isn’t a good enough three-point shooter to take reps away from the starters, and he’s too old to be viewed as a prospect. So he’s not going to get time over Ochai Agbaji either. Robin Lopez is washed and probably needs to retire sooner rather than later. And while we like Portis and Allen as additions to the Jazz, not in this package.
Portis isn’t better than Collins as an overall player, and while he’d be a better rebounder, Collins is more dynamic offensively. Not only that, while Allen would be a huge get for the perimeter of the Jazz, the fact is the Jazz have too many guards to begin with, and adding another solid, but unspectacular guard like Allen, isn’t going to make the Jazz better.
