In nine seasons, John Collins is on his third different team, and a reason why that may be fourth at the 2026 trade deadline is that the LA Clippers fell for the bait in his game on paper. Although Lawrence Frank saw All-Star numbers on Collins’ stat sheet last season, the Clippers have quickly realized that his averages were hiding the reality of a deeper story, which is a problematic fit.
Athleticism and nearly 20 points per game do not automatically mean a player can find a home anywhere in the league. However, Frank thought it did, and with James Harden there to make the Wake Forest product even better, the front office was 99% sure his arrival was a dream come true.
Yet the remaining one percent made a drastic difference, as Collins has struggled, particularly with Ivica Zubac. This shows that Collins’ numbers are much better than his play in real life.
The LA Clippers have spacing issues with John Collins and Ivica Zubac
John Collins’ jumper for the Utah Jazz was statistically elite, making Tyronn Lue believe that he could directly improve the efficiency of any lineup that was assembled. Unfortunately, over the last 14 games, his three-point shooting has regressed, confirming that his addition was too good to be true.
Collins is currently averaging 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds, shooting 50.4% from the field and 33.3% from three-point territory. Additionally, from last season, his three-point attempts decreased, and his percentage decreased by 6.6%, when they should have gone in opposite directions.
There are also significant issues with his floor spacing next to Ivica Zubac. In fact, according to the NBA’s traditional two-man lineup stats, Collins and the Croatian star have 204 total minutes together, with a field goal percentage of 46.1.
This percentage would be normal for a tandem of guards, as they may both select shots at all three levels, ultimately lowering their efficiency to a reasonable level. But, for two big men, like Collins and Zubac, the bare minimum should be above 50%.
As all of Zubac’s shots are near the basket, Collins’ game is too complicated for Tyronn Lue to adapt to. Therefore, with his contract expiring, the Clippers should trade him to a team interested in his skill set and $26.5 million contract.
That said, action following realization is always the best approach, and this is how the Clippers should handle every underperforming player in a similar situation.