Shams: Jazz Discussed Three-Team Trade With Suns, Hawks

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz reportedly discussed a three-team trade with the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks in recent weeks.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the trade talks surrounded Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt from the Jazz, Jae Crowder from the Suns, and John Collins from the Hawks.

Per Charania, the Jazz would have received Collins in the trade.

“Utah, Phoenix and Atlanta …those three teams discussed a potential deal. I’m told the deal failed to gain traction when Utah asked for multiple first-round picks.”

NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports on Suns‘ Jae Crowder (@CJC9BOSS) and his value as well as Hawks‘ John Collins. pic.twitter.com/0btQBLuGDK

— The Rally (@TheRally) December 26, 2022

“One scenario that I was told recently was between Utah, Phoenix, and Atlanta that deal would have sent John Collins to Utah,” Charania said on The Rally. “Those three teams discussed a potential deal in the last month or so.”

The Jazz have been linked to Collins throughout the summer dating back to before the team traded Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Similarly, the Suns have long sought after Jarred Vanderbilt since he landed with the Jazz in July.

According to Charania, discussions fell apart when the Jazz front office asked for additional assets in the trade.

“The deal failed to gain traction when Utah asked for multiple first-round picks, and a potential deal would have been right there,” Charania said. “John Collins to Utah, Crowder and other players potentially to Atlanta, and then Phoenix would have gotten Malik Beasley and Jared Vanderbilt who they really like in a potential deal.”

Vanderbilt has been a mainstay in the Jazz lineup this season starting 32 out of 34 games while scoring a career-high 8.4 points and grabbing 8.0 rebounds.

Beasley is averaging 14.4 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 38 percent on 8.6 three-point attempts per game.

Crowder has yet to suit up for the Suns this season after the two sides agreed to part ways before the season began.

Phoenix could be looking to add additional firepower before the trade deadline after it was announced Wednesday that All-Star guard Devin Booker would miss at least the next four weeks with a groin injury.

John Collins meanwhile has seen his numbers drop significantly this season for the Hawks. The sixth-year forward is averaging 12.3 points per game, the lowest number since his rookie season, while shooting a career-worst 49 percent from the floor and 23 percent from the three-point line.

The Jazz would likely be requesting additional assets to help offset the four years and nearly $102 million left on Collins deal.

The NBA Trade deadline is set for February 9.

Follow @benshoops