James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers boarded the boat again. To help him live as easily as possible, the team went out when they got John Collins from Utah jazz and gave him one of his biggest wishes this summer.
This move not only symbolizes Los Angeles’ appreciation for their hometown, but also legitimately improving his performance on the court. Throughout his career, Harden often flourished and effectively floored while playing with a big man who could run on the floor, thriving on the pick-up footsteps.
Collins checked all these boxes. He may not be the traditional edge protection that most contenders covet, but he brings something the Clippers lack lately to the table: vertical spacing and hovering ability in the frontcourt.
As a picking partner, Collins is one of the more explosive terminators in his position, and he is the perfect match for Harden's rhythm and vision. Harden and Collins’ two-game will make the LA look different from the ones that have been favored in recent years.
John Collins is a major upgrade for the Clippers
In fact, the Clippers quietly built one of the more forceful frontcourts at the Western Conference. Brook Lopez brings shooting and position defense, while Collins adds LOB threat and transition hustle and bustle, allowing the group to shift gears depending on the opponent. This versatility is very good for Mr. Uno.
The advantage of this move is that it is positive. Harden doesn’t have to run publicly or produce any drama to meet his demands. The front desk knew what to do and went out and knocked it down.
There is still a lot of uncertainty about the order of pecking in the Western Conference, but the Clippers bet on experience, and Kawhi Leonard's summer is totally healthy and can only help stabilize the rest of the roster. In this case, if Los Angeles is going to try to get a deeper playoff from its current core, it is entirely necessary to give an ideal frontcourt partner.
If Collins blended in and provided the Clippers with their expectations, this move could end up being one of the most important deals throughout the summer. Midway through next season, it’s clear how different the appearance of the Clippers, which Collins operates indoors, may look.