In the 2023 offseason, the Utah Jazz traded for former Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins. Collins was once a major building block for the Hawks but has seen his role dwindle each passing season. He finally gets a fresh start from the inevitable split between him and the franchise that drafted him. Moving forward, the Jazz hope to bring out the skills Collins once showed in Atlanta.
Can John Collins Have a Bounceback Season With the Utah Jazz?
Early Career
Collins was selected with the 19th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Hawks. He quickly proved to be a steal for his draft position. By his third NBA season, he put up averages of 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 40% three-point shooting. Collins was what many thought of to be a core piece for the Hawks franchise.
During the 2021-22 season, he injured the ring finger on his right hand. His finger had become so swollen it had more than doubled its width. Being a right-handed shooter, Collins struggled to match his previous three-point shooting success. His three-point percentages dropped to 36% that season and 29% by his last season with the Hawks.
The Split From Atlanta
The lower shooting percentages and decreased usage saw Collins as the talk of trade rumors for multiple seasons. The Hawks struggled to move him as they did not think the team would be getting enough value in return, while other teams were wary of the five-year, $125 million contract Collins had signed a few years before.
Finally, in the 2023 offseason, the Jazz traded Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick for the starting forward. The trade gives Collins a chance for a fresh start with the Jazz, who hopes to bring him back to the level he was playing at in 2020.
Empowering Head Coach
There is reason to be optimistic that Collins can return to being an impact-level player again. One of those reasons is Utah head coach Will Hardy played a key role in Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen having a breakout season.
One of Hardy’s philosophies is to let players play to their strengths and not force them to be something they are not. Hardy allowed Markkanen to play a similar role with the Jazz to what he did with the Finnish national team, where he flashed his potential.
Hardy will do the same thing with Collins by giving him a role where he will have the ball in his hands more. This is doable as Collins is projected to start alongside Markkanen and center Walker Kessler, with neither player needing the ball-dominant players to be effective and score the ball.
Collins may take time to adjust to his new role with the Jazz, but along with Hardy and his new opportunity, he looks to bounce back to his previous form with the Jazz.
