Darren Collison Gets Three-Year, $16 Million Deal With The Kings
Los Angeles Clippers guard Darren Collison agreed to a three-year, $16 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, per Brad Turner of the LA Times. Collison opted out of his deal with the Clippers which had him at less than $2 million for next season, but he was apparently hoping to re-sign with LA for more money.
Kings point guard and restricted free agent Isaiah Thomas has earned considerable interest from other teams, and this move for Collison may or may not suggest that they want to move forward with him as the starter. The Kings are now even tighter than they were in terms of cap space, and another team could now easily make a reasonable long-term offer for Thomas that Sacramento can’t match.
The Clippers are not in the Nets/Warriors’ pool of needing back-up point guards. Collison was a reliable and even crucial piece for Doc Rivers in this postseason, but the Clippers are clearly focused on their dire needs at the small forward position (see Clippers/Nets talking Pierce trade). On the flip side, any other team that can snatch up Isaiah Thomas is getting possibly the biggest steal at point guard in free agency.
