Kings' Collison unhappy with team trying to land point guard in free agency
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What's wrong with starting Darren Collison at point guard, Sacramento?
Apparently a lot, considering Kings management is pushing hard to make some sort of an upgrade at the position through free agency.
Sacramento has recently been linked to Rajon Rondo, who is reportedly set to meet with team officials on Friday. If an agreement isn't reached between the two parties, the Kings may then set their sights on Deron Williams, who is owed over $40 million the next two seasons by the Brooklyn Nets.
The rumors are making Collison, who started all 45 games he played in for the Kings last season, one unhappy camper.
Am I the only one who remembers how trill @Darren_Collison was before his injury when we had a full uninjured roster?
— Dave Lack (@DaveLack) June 30, 2015
It seems so... https://t.co/Jdcg0qOEIN
— Darren Collison (@Darren_Collison) July 3, 2015
At least one former Kings point guard knows the feeling:
@aaronbruski lol u right about that
— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) July 3, 2015
The 27-year-old has earned a reputation as one of the NBA's top backup floor generals, even though he's started 299 of the 421 games he's competed in over the course of his six-year career. Collison can't seem to find a permanent home with any one franchise, having played for three different teams (the Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, and Dallas Mavericks) in the past three years.
The backup stigma was born in Collison's rookie season with the New Orleans Hornets, when he averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists playing behind Chris Paul - a role he would fill again with the Clippers. Collison stands 6-feet and weighs in at just 175 pounds, small stature even by point guard standards, making many teams hesitant to invest in him as a starter.
He put up respectable numbers as the Kings' primary point guard last season, averaging 16.1 points and 5.6 assists, shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from 3-point range.
No matter how many times Collison steps up to the plate and delivers, it seems the teams that employ him will continue to search for a better option elsewhere.
Rondo brings plenty of baggage wherever he goes, and Williams is coming off the worst season of his career. The Kings would apparently rather roll with a point guard on the decline than give Collison another opportunity after a solid 2014-15 campaign.