As the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline approaches, front offices across the league are continuing to assess opportunities shaped by health, leverage, and financial flexibility. Among the teams drawing increased attention are the LA Clippers, who are viewed by rival executives as potential buyers capable of facilitating larger, multi-team deals.
One name increasingly circulating in league discussions is John Collins, whose nearly $26.6 million expiring contract has positioned him as a viable trade candidate, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
LA Clippers’ Position Shifts Toward Buyer Status
As the Clippers continue to stabilize after an uneven start, they sit outside the Western Conference play-in picture amid a tightly packed middle tier. Entering this stretch, Los Angeles trails a cluster of teams hovering around .500, including the Memphis Grizzlies (22–22), Portland Trail Blazers (24–19), and Golden State Warriors (25–17).
With the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and Sacramento Kings also grouped just behind, the Clippers’ margin for error remains thin. That reality has reinforced the perception around the league that Los Angeles could look to leverage its expiring contracts — including Collins — to either push back into contention or position itself favorably for future flexibility. With an expiring contract of Collins’ size, Los Angeles can act as either a direct buyer or a facilitator in more complex trade constructions.
Another avenue available to the Clippers includes using Bogdan Bogdanović’s contract, which pays a little over $16 million this season and includes a team option for 2026–27. That optionality provides flexibility for any trade partner looking to open cap space as soon as this offseason.
John Collins’ On-Court Production and Contract Appeal
Collins, acquired last summer, has settled into a complementary role with Los Angeles. In 38 games this season, he is averaging 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 54.6% from the floor and 41.2% from three-point range. His efficiency has stood out even as his usage has declined compared to previous seasons.
From a market standpoint, Collins’ value is less about long-term projection and more about immediacy. His expiring salary offers teams a chance to add frontcourt scoring and spacing without committing beyond this season, a trait that becomes increasingly attractive as the deadline nears.
Collins arrived with the Clippers as part of a three-team deal announced in July 2025 that reshaped multiple rotations. In the transaction, the Clippers sent Norman Powell to the Miami Heat, while Collins was acquired from the Utah Jazz. Utah received Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, and a future second-round pick.
At the time, the move was viewed as a way for the Clippers to add frontcourt scoring alongside James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, while maintaining roster continuity around Ivica Zubac. The team doubled down on that approach by retaining Harden, bringing back Nicolas Batum, and adding Brook Lopez in free agency.
NBA Trade Deadline Outlook
Whether Collins is ultimately moved will depend on how aggressively the Clippers believe they can push this season and whether a multi-team opportunity materializes.
For now, his expiring deal gives Los Angeles a degree of leverage and optionality that few teams possess heading into the final weeks before the deadline.
As the market continues to take shape, Collins remains a name to monitor — not necessarily as a centerpiece, but as a contract capable of unlocking broader movement across the league.
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