Salary-wise, executive Lawrence Frank and the LA Clippers must have been aware that John Collins is on the cusp of unrestricted free agency with one season left. Thus, they still traded for him, knowing that he may have high demands when the time comes to talk about extensions.
Furthermore, there is a good chance Collins averages around 15 points per game on good efficiency. His scoring will not be as high as it was with the Utah Jazz, as the title of a first/second option does not belong to him, but playing with James Harden as an athletic power forward only means free points.
Collins’ availability may be a concern, but the Clippers should not be worried with minimal pressure on his shoulders to suit up. He will have time to rest correctly in games, and the team will provide him with the best recovery mechanisms and dietary actions Los Angeles has to offer.
However, because of Norman Powell, the Clippers must offer Collins an extension, even if it breaks the bank in the future.
The LA Clippers’ front office will ensure their offseason three-team deal has a purpose behind it
Even though he will be worth it, the LA Clippers’ front office may not initially be flexible with an extension for John Collins. This is because of the future, as they do not want to lose a generational opportunity of potentially landing Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Yet, the Clippers lost all of their leverage with Collins’ agent by trading Norman Powell to acquire him. This is because of who Powell was and how much Lawrence Frank and Tyronn Lue treasured his presence.
Moreover, Powell put the city first before himself on countless occasions and never rushed the process. He was cool, calm, and collected at all times, and because he was so patient, the opportunity to have a breakout season finally made an appearance.
Powell blossomed late into his career as a star, but with averages of 21.8 points, social media accounts all over were posting his highlights, showing he put the league on notice.
That said, what Frank and the Clippers will realize later on is that if Collins does not like the number he is offered, the organization must work with him. His agent will be aware of who was traded to acquire him, and LA does not want the Wake Forest product to become an unrestricted free agent.