One NBA writer is proposing that the Utah Jazz trade John Collins to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro in a blockbuster deal. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Cavaliers and Jazz:
Trade idea: Utah Jazz trade John Collins and 2025 first-round pick (via CLE) to Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro
“While the Jazz just added Collins this offseason, they could be ready to pivot away from him sooner than later for a few reasons,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “If No. 9 overall pick Taylor Hendricks is ready to roll right away, Utah should want to give him all the minutes he can get. Plus, the Jazz have other options to fill the 4 spot, including Lauri Markkanen or even Kelly Olynyk in jumbo lineups.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: John Collins, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz Updates
“That gets to the second point, which is that Utah might have greater needs elsewhere, like with shot-creation and perimeter defense. Enter LeVert and Okoro. LeVert is a velvety smooth operator off the dribble who can get all the way to the basket or find open teammates on the move. If he shoots like he did last season (39.2 percent from range), he adds significant off-ball value, too. Meanwhile, Okoro is a menace on defense who’s still finding his way on offense. His shooting is a major question mark, but it wouldn’t stay that way if he maintains last season’s conversion rate (36.3 percent) while significantly upping his volume.”
Collins averaged 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists last season for the Atlanta Hawks while shooting 50.8% from the field, 29.2% from beyond the arc and 80.3% from the free-throw line. Atlanta signed Collins to a five-year, $125 million contract in August 2021 and traded him to Utah this offseason in a major NBA deal.
LeVert appeared in 74 games for the Cavaliers in 2022-23. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 43.1% from the floor, 39.2% from 3 and 72.2% from the foul line. Cleveland re-signed LeVert this offseason in free agency on a two-year, $32 million contract.
Finally, Okoro averaged 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists for the Cavaliers last season. The 22-year-old shot 49.4% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 75.7% from the free-throw line. Okoro was the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: John Collins, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz Updates
The Jazz didn’t make the NBA playoffs last season, while the Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the postseason in five games.
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