Jazz Reportedly Have Trade Decisions To Make With Rising John Collins

John Collins may not be the loudest name in the room, but his game is suddenly making plenty of noise with the Utah Jazz.

After a season of adjustment, Collins is quietly putting together his most productive stretch since his breakout 2019-20 campaign with Atlanta — the season that ultimately earned him a five-year, $125 million extension with the Hawks.

Now in a Jazz uniform, Collins is thriving in a role that highlights his strengths. Splitting time between power forward (his natural position) and center, he’s averaging 17.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in just under 29 minutes per game.

Jazz coach Will Hardy recently went as far as calling Collins “kind of the engine for our team.”

But here’s the thing: For all his consistency and efficiency, Collins finds himself smack dab in the middle of trade speculation yet again, as relayed by Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

It’s become familiar territory for the 27-year-old big man, who’s no stranger to his name being tossed around in transactional whispers.

And with Utah openly prioritizing its long-term rebuild around Lauri Markkanen, the leaguewide expectation is that Collins — along with veterans Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton — could be moved before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Collins, however, isn’t letting the chatter rattle him. After all, he’s been through this rodeo before. To his credit, he’s been a steady presence for a team that’s playing the long game, focusing more on draft positioning than immediate wins.

Collins still has one year left on his deal after this season, worth nearly $27 million, making him a potentially valuable trade asset.

But here’s the kicker: The Jazz are said to be thrilled with his performance and reportedly happy they snagged him from Atlanta for little more than a future second-round pick, as Stein noted.

Sure, Clarkson might be the more movable piece with his $14 million salary and older age (he’s 32), but Collins’ play has given Utah plenty to think about. He fits the timeline with Markkanen and has shown he can be a cornerstone player when given the opportunity.

So, will Utah hold onto its “engine” or flip him for future assets? For now, Collins is doing what he does best — keeping his head down and letting his play do the talking.

With the deadline looming, he’s proving his value, whether it’s in Salt Lake City or somewhere else.

• More Jazz | All coverage from Hoops Wire