With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, there are teams skimming the league for potential player targets. Of course, there is also the free-agent market to check out where several names could be called to active duty - including the ones who have retired.
Darren Collison, a player who retired in June 2019, made quite a fuss over social media recently when he said that he was considering un-retiring. But the catch here is that the 32-year-old would only do so with either the Los Angeles Clippers or the Los Angeles Lakers. Of the two teams, the Lakers are the ones looming as a sensible destination.
A spot on the Lakers that needs improvement is the point guard position. Collison seems to fit in perfectly although there are questions on the condition he is in. Since retiring to focus on his faith, there is no clear update on his health.
Collison has had his battles with injuries (hip and knee) in the past years. However, he managed to show that he can spring back into action and be effective. That alone should be a good sign for either the Clippers or the Lakers.
There is no telling who between the two Los Angeles-based squads has the lead. But if one looks back to the time when he retired, he did thank LeBron James specifically for his friendship and someone who had a major impact on him competing at the highest level, The Undefeated reported.
So far, James has yet to respond to Collison's un-retirement plans. But looking at the Lakers right now, an in-shape Collison could make the purple and gold better.
A look at Basketball-Reference.com shows Collison holding career averages of 12.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Aside from that, the 21st overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft developed a good three-point shot (39.4-percent career average).
Should their feeling be mutual, there is the matter of money on the table. With the roster they have now, CBS Sports mentioned how the Lakers may not be able to offer anything more than $1.5 million. This was the amount Los Angeles got when they applied for the Disabled Player Exception when DeMarcus Cousins went down with an ACL.
The numbers could be tweaked if the Lakers let some players go. Troy Daniels has hardly been a factor, same with Cousins. Before getting ahead, there is a matter of seeing the level of conditioning Collison is in. And there is perhaps no better one to assess than his former and current Lakers head coach Frank Vogel.
