The Houston Rockets have enjoyed a successful beginning to the 2024-25 season, securing a 16-8 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference through 24 games.
Houston’s young core of Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün alongside the former All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet have propelled the team to a somewhat unexpected beginning to the new campaign.
With an average age of just over 26 years old, the Rockets’ young and talented roster has given the team’s front office a reason to explore the trade market to try and capitalize on their success.
With a winning lineup headlined mostly by draft selections made in the past few seasons, Houston’s general manager Rafael Stone could be motivated to pick up the phone to inquire about the availability of a versatile scoring forward from the Utah Jazz.
John Collins blossomed into a fringe All-Star after being selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by his third season, which saw averages of 21.6 points and 10.6 rebounds on a 63.2% effective field goal percentage.
As a current member of the Utah Jazz after being dealt from Atlanta before the 2023-24 season, Collins is showing the league that he’s ready, willing and able to contribute to a winning organization.
For a Jazz franchise that possesses a 5-18 record, Collins has contributed 18.0 points and 8.3 rebounds while sporting a blistering 43.5% shooting clip from three-point range, a career-high.
As an incredibly versatile, athletic scoring option and improved defender averaging a career-best 1.1 steals, Houston could look to bring the 27-year-old into the fold to hold onto a top spot in the West.
The road to Collins’ arrival in Houston logically begins with the team letting go of their former No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Jabari Smith Jr.
A fellow power forward, Smith Jr. has shown flashes early into his career but does not look to be progressing at the rate Houston had desired when his name was called on draft night.
At 6-foot-11, his 35.1% three-point shooting this season could give Utah a reason to further develop his skill set if he were to be given a new opportunity.
In a potentially massive swap, Collins could take Smith Jr.’s place in the lineup on a competitive young team in the West while Smith Jr. could focus on his progression with a rebuilding team.
Draft compensation and other young prospects would likely have to be attached to Smith Jr. to complete a deal.
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