Recently, Bleacher Report took the time to look at the Los Angeles Lakers' top potential targets, including John Collins. The piece lays out a great case as to why the Lakers could be a fit for the former Hawk and current Jazz. Still, there is the one issue with the potential fit, and that is the fact that John Collins has a player option remaining for the 2025-26 season.
Considering Collins is being paid $26 million on the option, there simply isn't any scenario in which it isn't exercised. The forward was paid top dollar by the Atlanta Hawks and can't find this type of guaranteed money in free agency. With this in mind, the only way the Lakers could add the big man is if they were willing to pay the Jazz by matching expiring contracts.
Fortunately, there's a projected trade that could make that happen.
Lakers Trade Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber to Utah for John Collins in Projected Trade
Rui has had some great moments with Los Angeles and is a reliable scorer who will be tough to part ways with. However, the Lakers simply cannot afford not to do whatever it takes to add rebounding and lob threats for Luka. Part of what makes Collins such an exciting fit is what he can do around the rim and the hustle the veteran power forward offers.
This allows you to get out of the Maxi Kleber business as well and find a better option to replace the minutes you would have given Jaxson Hayes. Already, this makes the Laker starting lineup superior, giving you Austin Reaves, Luka Dončić, LeBron James, John Collins, and Jaxson Hayes as your starting five.
This allows you to replace Kleber with a better bench piece and the Lakers are likely going to add a better center than Hayes as well. No matter what the team's answer is, it is clear Collins is the exact type of player the team needs to be targeting if they're going to take the next step.
This season's playoff loss to the Wolves exposed how little depth and size Los Angeles offered when the games mattered most. In a conference with the Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves, and a myriad of up-and-coming teams, the Lakers' roster must add size and depth. A potential trade for John Collins could prove to be a step in that direction.