This summer, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the hunt for a new center or frontcourt player to complement stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and it seems the Utah Jazz might have just the right player to fill this role.
As the Lakers explore options for strengthening their frontcourt, John Collins of the Utah Jazz has emerged as a strong contender. Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake City Tribune revealed the Lakers’ interest in Collins on an episode of the Locked On Jazz podcast.
“There have definitely been discussions around John Collins joining the Lakers,” Larsen stated. “The Warriors showed some interest at the trade deadline before they acquired Jimmy Butler. Now, his contract situation might complicate things. However, he’s had a solid enough season last year to attract attention from various teams, though I don’t foresee the Jazz receiving significant returns in such deals.”
With the Jazz not expecting substantial returns for Collins, the Lakers could find this to be a favorable deal. Collins has opted into his player option, securing a salary of $26.58 million for the 2025-26 season, which is the last year of his five-year, $125 million contract originally signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 2021.
Last season, Collins averaged 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 block over 30.5 minutes per game. As a versatile inside-out player, he managed a 52.7% shooting percentage from the field and 39.9% from three-point range, although injuries limited him to only 40 games.
While the Lakers have shown interest in Jazz center Walker Kessler as well, acquiring him would likely require a much larger trade package. Collins, however, represents an appealing low-risk investment.
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