Darren Collison contemplating signing with Clippers or Lakers

[Roy H.]

Veteran guard Darren Collison, who stunningly retired before free agency, is considering a February return to the NBA -- with the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers emerging as his preferred destinations, league sources told ESPN.

Collison, 32, exited the league abruptly in late June despite an expectation that he would attract multiple contract offers in the neighborhood of $10 million-plus a season.

Collison's interest in a return and his focus on the Los Angeles teams sets up another possible recruiting showdown between the Lakers and Clippers, two of the NBA's primary championship contenders.

He was a really solid role player. I don’t want him helping out the Lakers.

[Who]

He would be a really good (role playing) point guard for LeBron. Big boost to their supporting cast.

He should definitely do that - sign with LAL. He retired too young. He has plenty of basketball left in him. The Lakers offer him the best combo of playing time + opportunity to play for a Championship. Plus, he is a UCLA guy.

[SHAQATTACK]

Veteran guard Darren Collison, who stunningly retired before free agency, is considering a February return to the NBA -- with the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers emerging as his preferred destinations, league sources told ESPN.

Collison, 32, exited the league abruptly in late June despite an expectation that he would attract multiple contract offers in the neighborhood of $10 million-plus a season.

Collison's interest in a return and his focus on the Los Angeles teams sets up another possible recruiting showdown between the Lakers and Clippers, two of the NBA's primary championship contenders.

He was a really solid role player. I don’t want him helping out the Lakers.

Roger that

[nickagneta]

Always liked Collison's game. Good defender for his size. Above average efficiency scorer. His last few years an excellent three point shooter. Good court vision and ability to run an offense. Good to very good passer. He was a guy coaches could depend on to play his role to the fullest and be a net positive just about every time he was on the court.

It sucks that he would go to the Lakers but if he does, I sure hope a year off hurt his game big time. If he goes elsewhere, well then, I wish him all the best.

[slamtheking]

respect his right to come out of retirement and choose where he plays but really disgusted with him only looking at the 2 LA franchises.  if that's where he ends up, hope he sucks bad enough to cost them some games.

[Roy H.]

respect his right to come out of retirement and choose where he plays but really disgusted with him only looking at the 2 LA franchises.  if that's where he ends up, hope he sucks bad enough to cost them some games.

Disgusted seems a bit harsh.

He grew up in SoCal, he played at UCLA, he played for the Clippers, and he currently lives there.  I think most of us would make a similar decision under the circumstances.

[Birdman]

Hope Clips get home not Lakers..

[Ogaju]

lol ...like he didnt know he was going to do this all along. Just scrap the salary cap and let teams bid for whoever they can get, No one will be able to compete with the LA teams at this rate. How long before Embiid, Simmons, or Giannis end up with one of the LA teams?

[Fierce1]

From the 1980s to the present, Celtic fans still hate the Lakers.

LOL

That's why I keep saying Ainge should upgrade because the Celts could be the only team who can stop the Lakers from winning their 17th championship.

[Roy H.]

lol ...like he didnt know he was going to do this all along. Just scrap the salary cap and let teams bid for whoever they can get, No one will be able to compete with the LA teams at this rate. How long before Embiid, Simmons, or Giannis end up with one of the LA teams?

He gave up a potential multiyear salary of $8 - $10 million per year and will end up with a pro-rated share of the veteran minimum.  I don’t think it will become a trend.

[Walker Wiggle]

lol ...like he didnt know he was going to do this all along. Just scrap the salary cap and let teams bid for whoever they can get, No one will be able to compete with the LA teams at this rate. How long before Embiid, Simmons, or Giannis end up with one of the LA teams?

Yeah I agree. The LA teams — Lakers in particular — now seem to have a ridiculous advantage not only in terms of free agency, but equally importantly, the buy out market as well as the “guys forcing trades to where they want to go” market that is now so huge in today’s league.

For instance, it’s now taken as a given that if Cleveland can’t find a taker for Tristan Thompson, it’s a foregone conclusion that he’ll get bought out and sign with LAL, at virtually no cost to his new team.

It’s hard to be upset about LAC, because they have been a shrewd franchise that has built themselves up to this point since the end of the Donald Sterling era. LAL? It was arguably the worst-run franchise in the entire league, does pretty much everything wrong, and keeps getting bailed out.

[nickagneta]

lol ...like he didnt know he was going to do this all along. Just scrap the salary cap and let teams bid for whoever they can get, No one will be able to compete with the LA teams at this rate. How long before Embiid, Simmons, or Giannis end up with one of the LA teams?

He gave up a potential multiyear salary of $8 - $10 million per year and will end up with a pro-rated share of the veteran minimum.  I don’t think it will become a trend.

Lol....I think this is this now called pulling a Noel! And yeah, it's definitely not a trend.

[Ogaju]

lol ...like he didnt know he was going to do this all along. Just scrap the salary cap and let teams bid for whoever they can get, No one will be able to compete with the LA teams at this rate. How long before Embiid, Simmons, or Giannis end up with one of the LA teams?

He gave up a potential multiyear salary of $8 - $10 million per year and will end up with a pro-rated share of the veteran minimum.  I don’t think it will become a trend.

Lol....I think this is this now called pulling a Noel! And yeah, it's definitely not a trend.

Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Cousins, West, the ring chasing salary cap busters all say 'hello'. The problem here is you cannot have a salary cap that is continually circumvented by other realities such as almost all NBA stars have a house in Los Angeles, and they can always say LA is more convenient for them because they 'live' here. Bottom line is Collison is worth 8-10 million a year that should be his cap number not some measly sum he decides to take from LAL which is most likely where he ends up.

[slamtheking]

respect his right to come out of retirement and choose where he plays but really disgusted with him only looking at the 2 LA franchises.  if that's where he ends up, hope he sucks bad enough to cost them some games.

Disgusted seems a bit harsh.

He grew up in SoCal, he played at UCLA, he played for the Clippers, and he currently lives there.  I think most of us would make a similar decision under the circumstances.

under other circumstances where LA teams weren't being treated as the Mecca of basketball for FA's and whiny players under contract wanting to be traded, I wouldn't be disgusted.  but, under the current situation in the league, I am.

[csfansince60s]

From the 1980s to the present, Celtic fans still hate the Lakers.

LOL

TP...For me the hate started in ‘68 with the original Big 3 (Wilt, Elgin and the Logo) and the balloons and confetti that never came down...haha