Ex-Hawks $125 Million Vet Traded Again in Three-Team Deal Involving 5-Time All-Star

Ex-Hawks $125 Million Vet Traded Again in Three-Team Deal Involving 5-Time All-Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

A familiar face for Atlanta Hawks fans is once again on the move. ESPN's Shams Charania stunned the basketball world by revealing a wild three-team NBA trade on Monday. 

The deal involves the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat. In terms of star power, 5-time All-Star Kevin Love may be the biggest name involved in the deal, even if the big man is entering the twilight of his career. 

Love is heading to the Jazz as part of the trade, but the name Hawks fans may be interested in learning about is John Collins. The former Atlanta big man is moving from the Jazz to the Clippers, marking the third team of his NBA career. 

"BREAKING: The Clippers, Jazz and Heat have agreed to a trade that sends Norman Powell to Miami, John Collins to Los Angeles, and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick to the Jazz, sources tell ESPN," Charania detailed in a series of X message on Monday. 

"Miami is acquiring a major scoring punch in Powell while the Clippers find a dynamic lob threat. Both Powell and Collins are coming off strong seasons. Utah has turned Collins' expiring deal into an asset in the form of a second-rounder in return."

John Collins responds to “We still love you” chants from Hawks fans in the 6th man section pic.twitter.com/5742wTi6hS

— JJ (@JameelahJNBA) April 7, 2025

During his career with the Hawks, Collins was a regular occurrence in NBA rumors ahead of the annual trade deadline. After six seasons in Atlanta amid countless trade rumors, Collins was finally traded to the Jazz during the 2023 offseason. 

John Collins alley-oop dunk all over Joel Embiid 👀 pic.twitter.com/56kV2sEgR8

— Hoop District (@Hoop_District) June 19, 2021

Collins is entering the final season of a five-year, $125 million contract and now finds himself on a Western Conference contender. The veteran averaged 19 points, 8.2 rebounds and one block per game in 40 appearances for the Jazz during the 2024-25 season. 

Related: Kristaps Porzingis’ Final Message Before Celtics-Hawks Trade Resurfaces

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.