Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors will disappoint a lot of people, as Darren Collison will remain retired.
Despite the NBA Trade Deadline passing last week, Los Angeles Lakers rumors have remained consistent. With the buyout market now being where teams are directing their attention, the Lakers will look to upgrade their roster that way.
The buyout market is always flush with veterans that can help change the tide of playoff races. Contending teams line up for these players’ services, and we have already seen some moves made.
The Charlotte Hornets have gotten things started on the buyout market, agreeing to part ways with Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Williams is already set to join the Milwaukee Bucks, while Kidd-Gilchrist is rumored to possibly be joining the Dallas Mavericks.
After not completing a trade prior to the deadline, the Lakers were expected to players on the buyout market. One player they were targeting was Darren Collison.
Collison has been retired but contemplated returning to the league in recent weeks. The Lakers, along with the LA Clippers, were the two teams showing interest in him. Now, either of them will be adding him to the mix.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Collison has elected to remain retired and that the timing isn’t right for him to return to the court.
Veteran guard Darren Collison has decided that he won’t return to the NBA this season and plans to stay retired, league sources tell ESPN. Lakers and Clippers had been courting him, but Collison has informed teams that the timing isn’t right for him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2020
This is a tough blow for the Lakers. Adding another playmaker, especially one that can shoot as well as Collison, was near the top of their list of needs on the buyout market.
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Collison is a career 39.4 percent shooter from the 3-point line and has a career assist percentage of 26.6 percent, averaging 5.0 per game.
With Collison now off the market, the Lakers don’t have many options to upgrade their backcourt. There have been rumors that Reggie Jackson could get bought out by the Detroit Pistons, but the Clippers have emerged as the likely landing spot for him should he hit the market.
Trey Burke is another point guard that recently hit free agency but is he worth adding to the roster at the expense of someone such as Quinn Cook or Troy Daniels?
With Collison no longer in the mix, the Lakers should try their best to add a wing defender, such as Kidd-Gilchrist. They have some extra money to offer players from the exception created by the DeMarcus Cousins injury. He could be someone they turn their attention to and attempt to sign.
Tim Frazier, Dion Waiters and Jeff Green are more current free agents to keep an eye on as well.
J.R. Smith, who the Lakers will have in for a workout at some point, could be the player they turn their attention to with their thought to be top option, Collison, no longer an option.