John Collins Stays with Jazz, Opts In for $26.5M Season
So, some breaking NBA news just dropped — and it’s making waves around the league. John Collins, the Utah Jazz forward, has officially picked up his $26.5 million player option for the 2025-26 season. That means he's staying in Utah, at least for now. This move locks him in for one more year with the Jazz, and it's the final year of the five-year contract he originally signed back in 2021 with the Atlanta Hawks.
Now, let’s break down what this means. Collins had a solid individual season — averaging 19 points per game on an efficient 52.7% from the field and nearly 40% from deep, along with 8.2 rebounds, 1 block, and a steal per game. He showed up consistently when he was on the floor. But here’s the thing — he only played 40 games due to an ankle injury that sidelined him after March 12. Some reports suggest the Jazz held him out intentionally near the end, possibly to focus on lottery positioning since the team was far from playoff contention.
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But Collins exercising this option now sparks even more trade chatter. His name has been floating around trade rumors all season, and now that his contract status is clear, you can bet teams are calling. The Lakers, despite the speculation, reportedly aren’t interested right now — but with the draft and free agency in full swing, anything can happen.
What’s really interesting is that John Collins joins Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson as players on expiring contracts for next season, giving the Jazz nearly $60 million in flexibility heading into the next summer. That’s a lot of cap room to play with, especially if Utah's front office, now led by Austin Ainge, wants to reshape the roster.
Also keep in mind, Utah holds four picks in the 2025 NBA Draft — including the 5th overall. That could influence what happens next with Collins. If they draft another forward or big man, it might make a trade even more likely. And with both Collins and Lauri Markkanen commanding major salaries, the Jazz may not want to keep pouring money into the same position.
Collins is entering his ninth season in the league. He was drafted 19th overall by Atlanta in 2017 and has played in nearly 500 NBA games. While his role has shifted over the years, there’s no denying his talent and athleticism still make him a valuable asset — whether that’s in Utah or elsewhere.
So, stay tuned. This might not be the end of the story for Collins and the Jazz — it might just be the setup for the next big move.
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