John Collins Reportedly Exercises $26.6M Jazz Contract Option amid NBA Trade Rumors
John Collins has opted into another season on his deal with the Utah Jazz.
Collins exercised his $26.6 million option with the Jazz ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
The veteran big man started out the 2024-25 season on the bench before injuries to the Jazz's starting lineup opened up a starting spot in Utah.
Collins missed significant time with hip and ankle injuries, but when available averaged 19.0 points on 52.7 percent shooting from the field through 40 appearances and 31 starts.
Collins also averaged 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists while adding a block and steal per game for the Jazz.
Collins has proven he can remain an effective contributor when healthy, but has not played more than 71 games in a single season since his rookie 2017-18 campaign. Being once more limited to 40 games last season could potentially have hurt his free agency value.
If Collins can record a healthier season on the final year of his current deal, he could hope to earn a longer-term extension ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Jazz will meanwhile need to decide between trading or constructing a new roster around Collins as the franchise begins what is likely to be a rebuild this offseason.
Collins was originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks as the No. 19 pick of the 2017 draft. After spending his first six seasons in Atlanta, he was dealt to the Jazz ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. He has averaged 16.5 points in 108 games and two seasons with the Jazz.
