After deciding to retire at just 32 years old in the summer, Darren Collison is considering making a return to the NBA in February. The two teams that he views as preferred destinations include the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.
Given the current landscape of the Lakers’ roster, Collison would be an improvement over what they have and would be a rare mid-season non-trade acquisition. It would enable Los Angeles to use different lineup combinations that feature more reliable spot-up shooting and complementary playmaking.
The simple fact of the matter is that the Lakers are in significant need of a point guard that can provide a complementary scoring impact and floor spacing. That’s why their top priority before the playoffs is to upgrade their talent at the backup point guard spot, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“Backup point guard is the No. 1 priority as they look towards improving their roster as we go into the postseason.”
Rajon Rondo has produced just 0.783 points per possession on scoring plays so far this season, which ranks 229th among the 234 players with at least 200 possessions. He has simply been too inefficient of a scorer in addition to being a defensive liability. That is certainly not a combination of attributes that would help in key moments.
According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, the perception from at least one Eastern Conference executive is that the Lakers need another playmaker because Rondo isn’t getting the job done.
“The Lakers need another playmaking guard. Rondo’s not what he used to be. The ball sticks with him, and he doesn’t defend anymore,” one Eastern Conference executive said, echoing an opinion held by many execs in attendance at December’s G League Showcase. “They need another point guard to help LeBron. If they’re going to make a trade, that’s what they need to target.”
During Collison’s final season with the Indiana Pacers, he averaged 11.2 points (46.7% FG, 40.7% 3P, 83.2% FT), 3.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and only 1.6 turnovers. While he was an ineffective defender, his output of 1.45 points per possession on overall derived offense — includes passing — ranked fifth among all 113 players that logged at least 1,000 possessions.
A hypothetical addition of Collison wouldn’t fix everything, though. Last season, he struggled to get by switches out on the perimeter and is a liability on the defensive end of the floor, which will probably only be worse after missing most of the season. He would still be an upgrade and is considerably better than any other option in free agency.
If the Lakers do end up signing Collison, it would certainly make them a more balanced team better equipped to contend this season. That’s all a team can ask for with a free agency signing in February.
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