There is a strong case to be made that the LA Clippers have the best sixth man in the NBA right now: John Collins. The former Jazz forward now finds himself in the perfect spot to thrive as a devastating second-unit weapon, assuming the Clippers choose to stagger him behind Ivica Zubac in the rotation. If that ends up being the route they take, then fans should expect fireworks.
Collins’ fit in Los Angeles has not been talked about enough since he was acquired. Of course, that's due in part to the bigger headlines this offseason surrounding the signing of Brook Lopez in the frontcourt and Chris Paul in the backcourt.
But in many ways, Collins may quietly end up being one of the most productive contributors on the roster. Many have assumed he'll be the starting power forward alongside Zubac, but don't be too sure. I believe he might be in an even greater position to succeed should he be with the second unit.
The advantage of bringing Collins off the bench is twofold. First, it allows Tyronn Lue to maintain a clear structure in the starting lineup by continuing to start Zubac at center and allowing him to do the dirty work defensively.
John Collins off the bench could be a cheat code for LA
Second, it gives the Clippers a major athletic and offensive jolt when the starters sit. Collins can step into a featured scoring role with the second unit, especially in lineups where CP3 runs the offense and shooters space the floor around him.
That kind of role unlocks what Collins does best. He can screen and roll with force, punish mismatches with his length, and pop out to hit the midrange or even the occasional three. He is also capable of crashing the glass and giving the Clippers much-needed second-chance opportunities.
Most importantly, Collins is still only 27 years old. He has plenty of bounce left, and his ability to operate as a lead option against backup bigs could put him in position to post some of the most efficient numbers of his career. If the Clippers lean into this blueprint, he may very well end up in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation.
There are still rotations to sort out, but if Collins ends up in this role, it might become a total cheat code. The Clippers could very well end up with one of the most lethal guys off the bench in the league.