NBA Trade Rumors: $26 Million Decision May Remedy Giannis Antetokounmpo & Bucks’ Playoff Woes as Former Target Resurfaces on Radar

While the addition of Damian Lillard to the Bucks roster increased Milwaukee’s title hopes significantly, they failed to get it done yet again. Getting kicked by the Pacers in the first round, they’ve likely realized the need for more pieces to complete the puzzle. Amid their off-season hunt, an old target has resurfaced in the trade market via the Utah Jazz, possibly ending Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co.’s misery.

As per NBA reporter Evan Sidery, “The Jazz are expected to shop John Collins in trade talks this offseason. The 26-year-old forward has two years remaining on his deal, which includes a player option, making $26.6 million annually.” Traded from the Hawks in exchange for Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick, John Collins became a part of the Jazz roster last summer. He had a decent showing in his first year in Utah, averaging over 15 points and nearly 9 rebounds. However, his numbers did not impact the winning, considering the Jazz finished as the 12 seed and couldn’t even make the playoffs.

So, with two years remaining on his current deal and a player option for the final year, the Jazz might be ready to ship him off. And that could be a sign for the Bucks, who are seeking the missing piece of the puzzle. While they’ll look to add him to their roster, it’s interesting to note that this wouldn’t be the first time Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. would show an interest in the Wake Forest product.

Last year, Zach Lowe revealed that the Bucks had “kicked the tires on John Collins, who got traded to Utah for nothing really.” He was hearing “some relatively serious” internal brainstorming in the Bucks camp. While he wasn’t sure whether they had contacted Atlanta, he was quite confident that the Bucks weren’t up for an “injection of randomness.” It’s safe to say that those September rumors aren’t stale yet.

Notably, that was when Giannis Antetokounmpo scared the Bucks by hinting that he might leave the team if they didn’t build toward a Championship. Discussing that possible trade and the Bucks’ need for a player to take his position, Lowe acknowledged “how hard it is to find a player who is worth what could be an enormously valuable pick – a decent rotation player on a decent contract – that’s enough of an upgrade to justify that kind of outlay.” Now, it seems Collins is a slightly improved candidate for the Bucks.

His average points per game has risen by 2.0 over the last 2 seasons. Also, the addition of Collins could be the franchise’s way of showing Giannis they are all in. With veterans like Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez playing alongside Giannis, the Bucks need someone around the 29-year-old’s age to help take that step toward winning championships. And John Collins could be that player. While this deal never came to fruition in 2023, they have a second chance of making it happen by spending the $26.6 million remaining on Collins’ contract.

Can John Collins really help the Bucks get over the hump?

Although the Jazz haven’t seen much success, Collins had a decent individual season. Apart from becoming the victim of Anthony Edwards’ ridiculous Dunk of the Year, Collins was very productive on the court and proved a good two-way player. Even before he joined the Jazz, he was a valuable part of the Hawks roster. Setting constant picks for Trae Young and catching lobs like it was nothing, Collins was an offensive threat to his opponents.

Spending six seasons in Atlanta, Collins helped them reach the Conference Finals four years ago. In his first playoffs, he averaged nearly 14 points and 9 rebounds and was the second-best player on the roster behind Trae. So, Collins has proven that he can be a valuable asset in the playoffs. And that’s exactly what the Bucks need right now.

Because of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dame’s untimely injury, the Bucks were left extremely shorthanded during their brief playoff run, losing to the Pacers 4-2 in the first round. In that scenario, they could have used a player like Collins, who could have taken advantage of the spacing created by the Bucks’ main man. Without a doubt, he’s a talented, young, high-flying forward with proven playoff experience.

As of now, per Brian Windhorst, there were “no rumbles” about Giannis Antetokounmpo and his long-term vision with the Bucks. Hence, with a chance to acquire a supporting cast for him this summer, it is likely that Milwaukee’s interest in Collins’ will rise again. Do you see this deal happening? Let us know in the comments below.

Thank you for reading till the end! Well, while the Bucks look for answers, we have your binging interests covered. Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, was recently on board for an ‘Exclusive’ with EssentiallySports and had quite an interesting perspective on how he built ‘SHAQ’ – the brand. Watch this video below.