The Golden State Warriors hit the right trade at the deadline with the Jimmy Butler deal that elevated them from a fringe play-in team to probably a Stephen Curry injury away from reaching the Western Conference Finals.
But before they made the Butler trade, a desperate Warriors team poked around several players. Their failed Kevin Durant reunion pursuit was well-documented. But there is one surprising name that recently came up, which the Warriors had an interest in.
Utah Jazz‘s high-flying forward John Collins.
According to Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune, the Warriors “were interested” in Collins at the trade deadline before they got Butler.
The 6-foot-9 Collins could have been Draymond Green‘s frontcourt partner had they acquired him. He is an athletic big man who puts pressure on the rim and can knock down the 3-point shot if needed.
John Collins as Small-Ball Center?
This past season, Collins shot 62.8% near the basket, above the 59.7% league average.
Collins, the 19th pick in the 2017 NBA draft, played only 40 games for the Jazz this past season. He averaged 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and one steal and block each. He also shot 39.9% from the 3-point line which could have made him attractive to the Warriors even more as one of their trade deadline targets.
However, Larsen said that ship has already sailed.
“I think contract-wise, that doesn’t work anymore,” Larsen explained on the “Locked on Jazz” on June 18. “He had a productive enough season last year that there should be interest in the league somewhere for him. I don’t expect the Jazz to get value back necessarily in those deals, though.”
Collins has a $26.6 million player option for next season. He has to opt in so the Jazz can trade him and get something in return. With only the Brooklyn Nets having large spending power in free agency, Collins might be forced to opt in.
The Warriors are looking to add a center to ease the burden on Green, who played at the five which was less than ideal for the 35-year-old grizzled veteran.
Will the Warriors revisit that Collins interest and make him their small-ball center if the price to get him is low as what Larsen predicts?
Jonathan Kuminga is Warriors’ Biggest Trade Chip
The Warriors offseason starts with Jonathan Kuminga‘s restricted free agency. What they do with him will dictate how their offseason go.
According to Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto, Kuminga is “looking for an expanded and consistent role moving forward.”
But Warriors coach Steve Kerr has already made it clear that isn’t happening.
“I’ve been asked to win,” Kerr told The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” on Wednesday, May 21. “And right now, he’s not a guy who I can say, I’m going to play 38 minutes with the roster we have, Steph, Jimmy, and Draymond, and put the puzzle together that way and expect to win.”
So, the most likely scenario is Kuminga will get signed and traded this offseason. To where is the question that will be answered soon.
Will they flip him for Collins? The Jazz were interested in Kuminga during the Lauri Markkanen trade talks last offseason. However, the Warriors might find Collins a low return for their former No. 7 pick.
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