Collins might be out of the Clippers' price range.
The Los Angeles Clippers wrapped up their season Wednesday night at Intuit Dome, falling 126-121 to the Golden State Warriors in a 9 vs. 10 play-in game that got away from them late.
They held a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter and could not hold on, and now the roster faces real questions heading into the summer.
John Collins sits at the center of one of those questions.
Collins is heading into free agency off his expiring deal, and his postgame comments sounded like a player who is genuinely torn about what comes next.
He talked about the people in the building, but he also acknowledged the business side that usually has the final say.
Collins Gets Honest About His Future
"I put my heart and soul into wherever I'm at, at the time, and I built those bonds and those relationships with the coaches, team, people that I'm here with," Collins said. "I'd love to just extend it and continue to grow those relationships, but I just understand the other side of the business. But again, enjoyed my time here, enjoyed the basketball here. Aim to grow and learn a lot, and see what the future holds."
Those words carry weight because Collins was one of the more quietly productive pieces on this roster, and the Clippers could use a player willing to stay with a group that just went 42-40.
He started in big moments, came off the bench when asked, and rarely complained about the shuffling.
The Clippers finished ninth in the West, while the Warriors grabbed the tenth seed at 37-45 before Stephen Curry erupted for 35 points.
Why Los Angeles Should Bring Him Back
Collins finished the regular season averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 55.2 percent from the field, a frontcourt profile the Clippers have been searching for next to Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez.
His shooting split was the real difference, as he also knocked down 40.6 percent from three on solid volume, giving Los Angeles the stretch four it lacked when things got tight in the half court.
There is also the locker room piece.
Throughout the team's midseason turnaround, Collins was mentioned repeatedly by teammates as a steadying presence during the early losing stretch.
The roster already skewed old, and letting a 28-year-old big who fits next to Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland walk would hurt the long-term plan.
A Fit Worth Keeping
Bringing Collins back is not flashy, but it makes sense on the numbers, the age curve, and the fit.
The Clippers just watched a season slip away in a game they controlled, and the offseason is about figuring out how this roster actually competes in a deep Western Conference next year.
Collins wants to be part of that answer, and Los Angeles would be smart to bring him back into the room.