NBA trade rumor links Sacramento Kings to one of best big men on the market. Here’s who
NBA executives across the land are burning up the phones with three weeks to go before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
The Sacramento Kings are still looking to improve and balance their roster with an emphasis on size, length and depth at the forward and center spots. Now, they are being linked to one of the best big men on the trade market.
Evan Sidery, who covers the NBA for Forbes, reported Thursday the Kings and Utah Jazz have had exploratory conversations centered on Jazz forward John Collins. A deal for Collins would likely include Kings guard Kevin Huerter and forward Trey Lyles.
The Kings (20-20) are trying to solidify themselves as a playoff team after winning seven of their first nine games under interim coach Doug Christie. They were ninth in the Western Conference going into Thursday’s game against the Houston Rockets, two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 6 seed.
Collins, 27, is an eight-year veteran who came out of Wake Forest as the No. 19 pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He is a 6-foot-9, 226-pound power forward who can also play center in small-ball lineups.
Collins is averaging 17.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks. He is shooting 52.5% from the field, a career-high 43.8% from 3-point range and a career-best 86.7% at the free-throw line.
Collins is in the fourth year of a five-year, $125 million contract. He is owed $26.6 million this season with a $26.6 million player option next season. The Kings can match Collins’ salary and while avoiding the luxury tax if they include Huerter and Lyles in the trade.
Huerter is making $16.8 million in the third year of a four-year, $65 million contract. Lyles is making $8 million in the final year of a two-year, $16 million deal.
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM.
